Brian O’Neal, Christian Dariso are expected to play in Week 9 against the Lions

The Minnesota Vikings maybe they’ll finally get their bookends. Christian Dariso and Brian O’Neill are in the attacks he expects to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions despite both being listed as questionable, according to X’s Brian Schefter, formerly of Twitter, and Kevin O’Connell’s optimistic reading heading into the weekend.

Minnesota needs them. In Thursday’s loss to the Los Angeles ChargersThe Vikings allowed five sacks and scored just 10 points. Quarterback Carson Wentz finished 15-of-27 for 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception as the offense stalled after halftime. The defense broke down too often, and the ground game never worked (34 yards rushing by the team). The return of Dariso and O’Neal should stabilize the edges and give the run-pass game a chance to breathe.

Christian Darrisaw aggravated a knee problem in Week 8 and left him early, but returned to full practice Wednesday before receiving a questionable late-week designation. Brian O’Neill, also dealing with a knee injury, has been working out and improving. O’Connell stopped short of announcing whether the starter was in or out but he said staff were “feeling very good”. their availability via Dane Mizutani of the West Central Tribune.

Detroit enters with a 5–2 record after the bye and remains a heavy favorite at home, but the matchup flips a bit if Minnesota defends. With JJ McCarthy expected to return under centerthe Vikings’ best route is to let Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison win outside while TJ Hockenson works the seams. That scenario takes time, and time starts with 71 (Darrisaw) and 75 (O’Neill) going up against a strong Lions front.

The Vikings also need cleaner early downs. Against the Chargers, Minnesota faced too many secondary and third-and-longs, which caused pressure and squeezed windows. Even a modest improvement on the ground can change the math. If Darrisaw and O’Neill are gone, the Vikings can rely on play-action, move the pocket and let McCarthy attack the rhythm of the throws instead of chasing explosives under duress.

Health in the fight doesn’t guarantee an upset, but it gives Minnesota a real chance to look like itself again. If Christian DeRiso and Brian O’Neal match up and finish, the Vikings offense will once again have a floor and maybe a ceiling high enough to make Detroit sweat at Ford Field.