Vikings lose starting right tackle Phil Loadholt, to likely torn Achilles tendon

Right tackle Phil Loadholt, who is already coming back from a pectoral injury that ended his season in 2014, appears to have suffered some sort of leg injury.

On Saturday, rookie fourth-round pick T.J. Clemmings was inserted into Loadholt’s spot on Saturday and will likely be asked to step into the role on a more permanent basis following the game.

A sideline report on the broadcast by former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said Loadholt was helped on to a cart with tears in his eyes as trainers worked on his left foot or ankle.

This is bad news for all of the Minnesota Vikings offense, not just the offensive line. “We draft these guys to get them in here and play”.

The Vikings made a pressbox announcement that Loadholt is out for the game.

Since his rookie season, Loadholt has been a fixture at right tackle for the Vikings, and has been one of the best run blockers in the league at the position.

In 2013, Loadholt signed a three-year, $25 million contract extension. The No. 1 thing Clemmings needs to do is to succeed in run blocking, which is what Loadholt was so good at.

“I am just going to keep doing what I have been doing”, he said after the game.

Two plays into their first home game of the preseason, the Minnesota Vikings suffered what could be a significant loss to their offensive line.

Minnesota were looking at a potential playoff season but the injury to their starting right tackle will make their path to the playoffs more challenging.