Which players are winning position battles for the Minnesota Vikings?
By Adam Carlson
Right guard: Kline vs. Isidora vs. Samia
Four of the team’s five spots on the offensive line were written into stone before the preseason ever really got started. Riley Reiff, Pat Elflein, Garrett Bradbury, and Brian O’Neill locked down their spots, leaving the right guard spot open for a battle.
Free-agent acquisition Josh Kline quickly became a favorite based on his experience while Danny Isidora had done the job for the Minnesota Vikings before. If you sprinkle in the potential of rookie powerhouse Dru Samia, you have the potential for a great position battle.
So far, it hasn’t been much of a battle though. Kline got penciled in as that starter and hasn’t really let go of the spot at all. In addition, the offensive line has looked significantly improved over last season so any major changes are unlikely to happen.
That means Isidora will likely be the team’s backup at right guard with Samia looking to unseat him. Since the odds of keeping three right guards is quite low, Samia might end up on the chopping block with the team hoping to slide him on the practice squad.