National Football League

Phil Loadholt retires from NFL after 7 seasons with Vikings

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:28 p.m. ET

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Right tackle Phil Loadholt has decided to retire from the NFL after seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings placed Loadholt on the reserve/retired list Monday, four days before training camp begins. Loadholt, a second-round draft pick by the Vikings out of Oklahoma in 2009, missed the entire 2015 season because of a torn Achilles tendon. He missed the last five games of the 2014 season due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Prior to those injuries, Loadholt missed only one game. He was a starter from his rookie year on. His 89 career regular-season starts are ninth in Vikings history for an offensive tackle.

Newcomer Andre Smith and incumbent T.J. Clemmings will compete for the starting spot at right tackle.

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