Minnesota Vikings Sign Veteran Guard To Help Battered Offensive Line
The Minnesota Vikings are off to a disappointing 0-2 start to the 2023 NFL season. Even more frustrating is that both losses could have been victories if not for turnovers and injuries to the offensive line.
So far this season, the Vikings have lost tackle Oli Udoh to a season-ending quad injury. They've also had left tackle Christain Darrisaw and center Garret Bradbury miss games due to injuries. The time was now to add an offensive lineman and a proven veteran who could improve those around him and luckily, he was waiting for the opportunity.
According to multiple sources, including 9News in Denver, former Denver Bronco guard Dalton Risner has agreed to join the Vikings on a one-year, $4 million deal with $2.25 million guaranteed. Risner was expected to arrive in Minneapolis Monday night to sign the deal.
Risner is a former second-round pick who started 62 games at left guard for the Broncos over the past 4 years, missing only four games during that span. He was considered among the top three left guards in free agency when the market opened in March and while it took longer than expected to find the right situation, he's found it now in Minnesota.
The goal now is to get Risner up to speed and on the field as soon as possible. The Vikings will be happy to hear that Risner believes he is in top physical shape thanks to sports performance trainer Loren Landow, who returned to his Denver-area private practice after serving five seasons as the Broncos’ strength and conditioning coach, and Duke Manyweather, an offensive line specialist trainer in the Dallas area.
Risner had visited Minnesota in August and it makes sense for him to join the Vikings not just because of the need for an offensive line upgrade, but because he will now be reunited with his former offensive line coach Chris Kuper.