![\"Will](\"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/USATSI_27140561_168400517_lowres-900x600-1.jpg\")
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The Minnesota Vikings made Will Fries one of the NFL\u2019s highest-paid guards this offseason,\u00a0awarding him\u00a0a five-year, $88 million contract with $44 million guaranteed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Through 10 weeks of the 2025 season, that investment has not produced the expected returns. Fries is posting career-low blocking metrics at right guard.<\/p>\n
Fries\u2019 pass block win rate sits at 88.5 percent, ranking 57th among 66 qualifying guards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That mark represents a\u00a0significant decline from\u00a0his 92.4 percent rate in 5 games last season. It also falls below his 90.9 percent figure from his full 2023 campaign with Indianapolis.<\/p>\n
The run blocking numbers tell an even more concerning story for Minnesota\u2019s offensive line\u00a0investment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fries\u2019 run block\u00a0win rate has dropped\u00a0to 66.3 percent this season, placing him 55th out of 65 guards. That figure is down from 74.3 percent in his limited 2024 action and 70.3 percent in 2023.<\/p>\n
Minnesota\u2019s front office targeted Fries after his impressive tape from 5 games in 2024 before a broken tibia ended his season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Colts had not viewed him as an elite talent during his 2023 starting role. But his brief 2024 flash created enough optimism for the Vikings to outbid other suitors.<\/p>\n
Fries experienced a setback during his offseason recovery from the tibia fracture, which may still be impacting his performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Vikings have also shuffled personnel on both sides of him along the interior line. That lack of continuity has complicated his adjustment to a new system and new teammates.<\/p>\n
The contract structure suggests that Minnesota viewed Fries as a cornerstone piece for their future offensive line.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, they are receiving below-average production at a premium price point through the season\u2019s first 10 weeks.<\/p>\n
Minnesota\u2019s aggressive spending on Fries represents part of a broader offensive line rebuild strategy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Vikings committed significant resources to upgrading their interior protection this offseason after years of quarterback pressure issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah prioritized experience and upside in free agency rather than the draft.<\/p>\n
The signing of Fries was intended to bring stability to the right guard position for several seasons. At age 27, he was entering his prime years for this role.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, the Vikings are learning the risks of paying for projection rather than proven production.<\/p>\n
Minnesota\u2019s offensive line ranks in the middle of the pack in most team metrics this season, despite the significant spending.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The interior struggles have limited the effectiveness of both the rushing attack and the play-action passing game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Coaching staff adjustments continue as they search for the right combination of personnel groupings.<\/p>\n
Get the latest Pro and College Football news, analysis, and breaking stories on the NFL, NCAA, Fantasy Football, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on\u00a0Google News, so you never miss a story from the football field.<\/p>\n
This is the kind of adversity the\u00a0Philadelphia Eagles\u00a0have avoided to this point in the season. Now, they\u2019ll have to figure out how to replace one of the NFL\u2019s elite players.<\/p>\n
Multiple reports on Monday, November 17, said that 5-time NFL All-Pro right offensive tackle and 2-time Super Bowl champion\u00a0Lane Johnson\u00a0could land on injured reserve and miss 4-6 weeks with a\u00a0Lisfranc sprain in his foot\u00a0suffered in a 16-9 win over the\u00a0Detroit Lions\u00a0in Week 11.<\/p>\n
\u201cEagles five-time All-Pro OT\u00a0Lane\u00a0Johnson\u00a0suffered a Lisfranc injury during Sunday night\u2019s win over the Lions, per sources,\u201d\u00a0ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter\u00a0wrote on his official X account. \u201cIt is not expected to be a season ending injury, but he could be headed to injured reserve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson left the game against the Lions and didn\u2019t return, as did center\u00a0Cam Jurgens. Johnson was replaced in the lineup by\u00a0Fred Johnson.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-6, 325-pound Johnson is widely considered one of the greatest offensive linemen not just in Eagles history but in\u00a0NFL\u00a0history and a likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n
Johnson is in his 13th season and signed a 1-year, $25 million contract extension this offseason and has approximately $163.4 million in career earnings.<\/p>\n
\u201cEagles\u00a0OT\u00a0Lane\u00a0Johnson, one of the game\u2019s best, suffered a Lisfranc sprain Sunday,\u201d\u00a0NFL Network\u2019s Ian Rapoport\u00a0wrote on his official X account. \u201cHe\u2019s out the next 4-6 weeks because of the foot injury, but will seek a second opinion and more tests. This likely lands him on IR, but belief is not season-ending.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson\u2019s latest injury underlined bigger injury issues the Eagles have dealt with all season on the offensive line when it comes to their 5 projected starters.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s an underrated Eagles storyline that could explain Philadelphia\u2019s offensive struggles:\u00a0Jordan Mailata,\u00a0Landon Dickerson,\u00a0Cam\u00a0Jurgens,\u00a0Tyler Steen\u00a0and\u00a0Lane\u00a0Johnson\u00a0have played every offensive snap in just ONE game this season,\u201d\u00a0Philly Special\u2019s Anthony DiBona\u00a0wrote on his official X Account.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like Lane Johnson might be getting to the point of his career that\u00a0Jason Peters\u00a0was at the end, where he\u2019s still really good when he\u2019s on the field, but injuries pull him off relatively frequently,\u201d\u00a0Bleacher Report\u2019s Tim Kelly\u00a0wrote on X.<\/p>\n
\u201cLane Johnson is a first ballot HOF and one of the best Eagles of all time,\u201d\u00a0Eagles fan Patrick Philly PMC\u00a0wrote on his official X account. \u201cBut Father Time is undefeated. The Eagles need to find his replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Week 10, Johnson left a Monday Night Football win over the\u00a0Green Bay Packers\u00a0with an ankle injury and returned to the game.<\/p>\n
Now, the Eagles will likely have to figure out how to maneuver the rest of the season without one of the NFL\u2019s dominant blockers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good news is Fred\u00a0Johnson\u00a0is a solid\u00a0Lane\u00a0Johnson\u00a0replacement for a few weeks,\u201d\u00a0Go Birds Pod podcast host Eliot Shorr-Parks\u00a0wrote on his official X account. \u201cThe bad news is now that 6-man OLine they have loved this season is now worse with\u00a0Matt Pryor in Fred\u2019s place.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Minnesota Vikings made Will Fries one of the NFL\u2019s highest-paid guards this offseason,\u00a0awarding him\u00a0a five-year, $88 million contract with $44 million guaranteed.\u00a0 Through 10 weeks of the 2025 season, that investment…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t