EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings experienced a significant setback when left tackle Christian Darrisaw tore ligaments in his left knee, sidelining one of their most indispensable players for the remainder of the season.

That certainly didn’t stop them from trying to find a submarine.

The Vikings got back to work on the field Wednesday after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah acquired veteran tight end Cam Robinson in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for a future third-day draft pick, signaling seriousness about not wasting a 5-0 start despite two straight losses and a major injury.

“When you lose a player like Christian Darrisaw, it’s so catastrophic because it means so much to your team and your offense, but also just from the standpoint of losing such a veteran presence that we rely on so much.” coach Kevin O’Connell. said. “So to find a player of Cam’s caliber in the season like Kwesi was able to do, I’m looking forward to having him here.”

Robinson was busy getting a physical and getting familiar with his new surroundings Wednesday, leaving him little time to learn the playbook and his teammates before Sunday night’s game against Indianapolis. O’Connell left little doubt that he would like to see Robinson slide right into the lineup to play the Colts, a team he just faced a month ago with the Jaguars, or at least get some snaps if not start the game. .

“There might be some nuance to the protection of the run game or play action here and there, but the tackle spot is one where, on those hard downs and drop passes and those things, you block the defensive end,” O ‘ said Connell. “Whether we say peaches or whatever, it really doesn’t matter.”

Robinson, when healthy, has consistently graded out as an above-average tackle throughout his career since the Jaguars drafted him 34th overall out of Alabama in 2017. He would provide a skill upgrade from the veteran reliable David Quessenberry, who took Darrisaw’s place. for the second half of Minnesota’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week.

The other viable option would be to move left guard Blake Brandel to replace Darrisaw, where he started three games in 2022 while Darrisaw was in the concussion protocol and Dalton Risner was on the verge of making his season debut after being injured at the back in the camp. Risner took over as the starter at left guard last year. O’Connell declined to say whether Brandel will stay at guard or slide to tackle.

Drafted 23rd overall out of Virginia Tech in 2021, Darrisaw has become one of the best blind-side blockers in the game.

“He just came with a different attitude this year and you saw it on the field: he was dominating guys,” center Garrett Bradbury said. “I didn’t blink about the left side. We could do everything we needed to do there and we knew it was tied. That’s a testament to the player he is, the work he’s put in this offseason and the mindset he’s approached this year with. I know he will take the same approach to this rehab and come back better than ever.”