The Minnesota Vikings played their season opener against the Chicago Bears without two key players. Safety Harrison Smith did not travel to the team to Chicago as he continues to deal with what was labeled as an illness, and left tackle Christian Darrisaw was inactive as he nears the end of his recovery from a torn ACL last season.
Darrisaw was especially missed protecting J.J. McCarthy's blindside against the Bears. His replacement, Justin Skule, allowed both sacks of McCarthy in the game, and according to Pro Football Focus, he allowed four of the five pressures Chicago registered on the Vikings' signal caller.