The Minnesota Vikings collapsed big time this past season. After starting the year with a 5-0 mark, they would go on to lose eight of their final 11 games to miss out on the playoffs altogether.
Injuries to Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Kalil and Adrian Peterson surely didn’t help here. The three core offensive performers played in a combined three games.
And while the loss of their starting quarterback as well as their future Hall of Fame running back drew most of the press, the Vikings were forced to play without their starting left tackle throughout the season.
In the end, Sam Bradford saw himself sacked a total of 37 times while being the fifth-most hurried quarterback in the entire NFL. Needless to say, the Vikings are in need of a major shake up when it comes to their offensive line.
That started Friday with the team releasing starters Brandon Fusco and Mike Harris.
We have released Brandon Fusco and Mike Harris.
📰: https://t.co/fXP8Atv8th pic.twitter.com/MIANLmgYT4
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) February 10, 2017
Fusco has started 30 games over the past two seasons, including 14 this past year. A sixth-round pick from Slippery Rock back in 2011, the guard struggled big time in pass protection this past season. Minnesota is surely going to be looking for an upgrade in either free agency or the draft.
Meanwhile, Harris missed the entire 2016 season due to a non-football related injury. Though, he did start all 16 games at right guard for the Vikings’ playoff team back in 2015.
Minnesota saves nearly $5 million against the 2017 cap by releasing these two interior offensive linemen. It is sure to use some of that cash to get more help along this unit.