| LT | Matt Kalil |
| LG | Brandon Fusco |
| C | Joe Berger |
| RG | Mike Harris |
| RT | T.J. Clemmings |
This unit might have started all 16 games but they often struggled. Sometimes mightily. Those struggles made improving the offensive line the top priority of the offseason. The Vikings hoped that improvement would come from an influx of some veteran talent, a lot of depth, and hopefully a lot of training camp competition. Former San Francisco 49ers guard Alex Boone was the big addition in free agency. The Vikings also added former Cincinnati Bengals tackle Andre Smith to provide competition and depth. The 2016 NFL Draft brought a player that they hoped to develop in Willie Beavers.
As training camp approached, Vikings starting offensive line projections looked something like this:
| LT | Matt Kalil |
| LG | Alex Boone |
| C | John Sullivan/Joe Berger |
| RG | Brandon Fusco/Mike Harris |
| RT | Phil Loadholt/Andre Smith |
Competition for offensive line jobs was supposed to be the theme of training camp. Long-time starters John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt missed the entire 2015 season with injuries. They were finally healthy but they faced competition for their old jobs. Brandon Fusco was back at right guard after a season of struggles at left guard. He was supposed to compete with Mike Harris at right guard. Harris' promising play was actually one of the few offensive line bright spots in 2015. Matt Kalil, mostly disappointing since an excellent 2012 rookie season, was supposed to receive nominal competition at left tackle from T.J. Clemmings. Newcomer Alex Boone was the only player that had his name written in ink on the lineup card.
All of the expectations, all of the competition and depth changed before training camp even started. Injury concerns forced Loadholt to retire about a week before the start of camp. Harris came to camp with a mysterious injury/illness that continues to keep him on the sideline. The expected depth thinned and the competition evaporated before it ever got started. The only real competition that remained was that at center between Sullivan and Berger. When camp closed, Berger had the job. Sullivan was released due to the presence of promising youngster Nick Easton.
The Vikings starting offensive line for opening day of the 2016 NFL Season:
| LT | Matt Kalil |
| LG | Alex Boone |
| C | Joe Berger |
| RG | Brandon Fusco |
| RT | Andre Smith |
The 2015 season was one of offensive line continuity. There has been no such continuity this season. Through five games nearly every offensive lineman on the Vikings active roster has seen significant playing time. Kalil didn't make it through three games. T.J. Clemmings replaced him in the lineup. Kalil is now on injured reserve. An injury forced Boone out of the lineup early in game 3 against the Carolina Panthers. Jeremiah Sirles replaced him. Fortunately, Boone returned for the next game. Smith was injured in game 4 against the New York Giants. Showing his position versatility, Sirles replaced him in that game and started the next. Smith joined Kalil on injured reserve. A concussion took Fusco out of game 5 against the Houston Texans. Zac Kerin replaced him. All told, Berger is the only starting lineman to not miss any time. Here's hoping that continues. The Vikings can't afford to lose their center.
Season-ending injuries to the tackles have resulted in this offensive line in game 5:
| LT | T.J. Clemmings |
| LG | Alex Boone |
| C | Joe Berger |
| RG | Brandon Fusco |
| RT | Jeremiah Sirles |
After doing respectable work against the Giants in game 4, Clemming had a load of difficulties against Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus of the Texans. Those difficulties had to play a role in the Vikings signing former All-Pro left tackle Jake Long on October 11. The line depth was depleted. Especially at tackle. They had to add someone and were lucky that a player as talented and experienced as Long was available. If he's finally recovered from a long run of injuries the Vikings might have found a huge line boost when they really needed it. At least that's the hope. We'll find out Sunday if the addition of Long results in an immediate lineup change. Even if he doesn't start against the Philadelphia Eagles it's no real stretch to suggest that he'll eventually be the Vikings left tackle. Initially, I thought that Clemmings might move to right tackle to make room for Long. Now, I'm thinking that Sirles stays in the lineup and Clemmings will back up both tackle spots as the swing tackle. The changes results in this new Vikings offensive line moving forward.
| LT | Jake Long |
| LG | Alex Boone |
| C | Joe Berger |
| RG | Brandon Fusco |
| RT | Jeremiah Sirles |
That lineup would have been impossible to imagine six months ago.
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