Vikings OL Phil Loadholt likely has torn Achilles; MRI on Sunday

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

Right tackle Phil Loadholt has what the team believes is a torn Achilles tendon on his left foot in the 26-16 win Saturday night over theTampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Mike Zimmer said.

Loadholt will have an MRI test on Sunday.

"We think it's a torn Achilles. It's not 100 percent sure yet, but we're pretty sure," Zimmer said. "It's disappointing for Phil, because he worked so hard and because he's a great person,"

Loadholt had to be helped off the field after the injury, which occurred after a handoff to running backJerick McKinnonin the first quarter.

Defensive lineman Everson Griffen and backup tackle Babatunde Aiyegbusi helped Loadholt to a cart, and Loadholt was driven to the Vikings locker room with his left shoe off.

A second-round pick in 2009, Loadholt, 29, missed the final five games in 2014 because of a torn pectoral muscle. He is in the third season of a four-year, $25 million deal that made him one of the highest-paid right tackles in the league after he helped pave the way for Adrian Peterson's 2,097-yard season in 2012.

Fourth-round pick T.J. Clemmings took Loadholt's place at right tackle with the first-team offense after his departure.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.