Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has officially been removed from the injury report and is set to lead his team on Sunday in a pivotal NFC North matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Despite initial concerns over a lingering foot injury, Darnold’s full participation in practices later in the week signals he’s ready to go.
The week began with Darnold listed as limited in practice due to a toe issue, but he progressed to a full participant by Thursday, mirroring the same recovery pattern he followed last week while managing a right-hand injury. Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their quarterback is fully available for a critical divisional game.
Darnold’s 2023 season has been a revelation. Drafted third overall in 2018 by the New York Jets, the former USC standout has finally found his groove with Minnesota. Leading the Vikings to an 8-2 record, Darnold has already surpassed his career-best mark in QB wins, eclipsing the seven victories he notched with the 2019 Jets.
Statistically, this is shaping up to be Darnold’s finest season. Through ten games, he has matched his career-high of 19 touchdown passes (set in 2019) while amassing 2,387 passing yards. His efficiency has also improved dramatically, as he’s posting a career-best 67.9% completion rate. However, turnovers remain an area of concern—Darnold has thrown 10 interceptions, including five across Weeks 9 and 10.
Encouragingly, the 26-year-old signal-caller rebounded last week in a 23-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. In that game, Darnold threw for 246 yards, two touchdowns, and—perhaps most importantly—no interceptions. The Vikings’ ability to rely on Darnold to protect the football while executing big plays has been a key factor in their success this season.
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Sunday’s game against Chicago marks only the second time Darnold will face the Bears in his NFL career. His first encounter came during his rookie season in 2018 as a member of the Jets. In that Week 8 contest, Darnold completed just 14 of 29 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown in a 24-10 loss. Now, with a far stronger team around him, Darnold has a chance to rewrite that history.
The Vikings’ offense has leaned heavily on Darnold’s decision-making this season, and Sunday will be no different. As Minnesota continues to push for playoff positioning, maintaining control of the NFC North is critical. A win against the Bears would keep the Vikings firmly in the driver’s seat in their division.
Darnold’s growth as a quarterback is evident not only in his statistics but also in his command of the offense. The consistency he’s displayed under center has elevated Minnesota’s offense to one of the most efficient units in the league. Against a Bears defense that has struggled at times this season, Darnold has a prime opportunity to keep the Vikings’ momentum rolling.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET at Soldier Field, where Darnold will look to continue his breakout campaign. While his previous outing against Chicago might not have gone his way, the stakes—and the circumstances—are far different this time around.
For Vikings fans, Darnold’s availability is a relief, and his performance on Sunday could solidify Minnesota’s status as a legitimate contender. As the Vikings aim for their ninth win of the season, all eyes will be on their rejuvenated quarterback to deliver another standout performance.
