Vikings' Harris makes first appearance at guard since Pop Warner
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- There was little warning for Minnesota Vikings tackle Mike Harris. Harris was called over by a coach on Sunday and told, simply, "Go play right guard."
There was no time to comprehend exactly what was being asked or go over Harris' responsibilities at guard. Seconds later, he had his hand in the ground playing guard for the first time as a professional.
"I'm like, 'What?" Harris said in response to the coach. "I had never done it in my whole life. But I had fun. I haven't played really since the preseason, but it was cool just to be out there with my guys and just playing hard for the team."
Harris, in his first season with Minnesota, was one of two reserve offensive linemen on Sunday along with Joe Berger when center John Sullivan and right guard Vladimir Ducasse were both injured on the same play in the first quarter.
Before they even had time to stretch out again, Harris and Berger were thrust into the middle of the Vikings' offensive line. Berger has been a vital backup the past four years for Minnesota, even starting nine games during that span.
In his third year out of UCLA, Harris couldn't even remember the last time he had practiced as a guard.
"I've never, since probably my Pop Warner, 10 years old," Harris said. "That's the last time I've played guard."
An unstable Vikings offensive line was thrown further into disarray. Sullivan will have to pass concussion testing before he's able to return to action. Ducasse, who was already filling in for usual starter Brandon Fusco, will have a magnetic resonance imaging test for a knee injury.
With two fill-ins facing the Buffalo Bills' top-ranked run defense featuring Mario Williams and underrated talents in Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes, Minnesota ran for 158 yards, the first team to eclipse 100 yards against Buffalo this season.
There were still issues in pass protection as rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was sacked five times, including consecutive plays after the Vikings had first-and-goal at the 7-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
"It's kind of like how it's been all year: a little bit of good, a little bit of bad," coach Mike Zimmer said of the offensive line on Sunday. "They would kind of take turns. I thought there were some good things. I thought our pad level was much better in the run game. I thought we came off the ball better. I thought we stayed down with our pads and continued to push people. In the passing game we had some things that went on that shouldn't have happened."
Harris had started 12 games in two previous seasons with the San Diego Chargers. Hoping for another chance to play, the 6-foot-5, 318-pound Harris wouldn't mind if the opportunity was at guard.
"I kind of like it, I like being inside," Harris said, adding: "There's some technique I can improve on. It's a lot quicker getting up on backers. You've got to be a lot quicker with your punch in the pass game. I'm looking forward to this week, seeing if I'm going to be in there."
Zimmer, just like the previous week as he deals with an underperforming line, isn't ruling out any possibilities.
"We'll evaluate all of that as we get going here," Zimmer said. "Like I said before, part of my job is to continually look at how we can do things. And I'm not opposed to making any changes. That doesn't mean we're going to. But we have to look, if we make a change, what are the options that we have with that change and what is the best option as we go forward. But we've got to continue to get better in that area with the offensive line; actually in a lot of areas."
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