Brandon Fusco has never dealt with a season-ending injury. Not at Seneca Valley High School north of Pittsburgh. Not at small-school Slippery Rock University. Not in his first three NFL seasons.

But Wednesday morning, three days after he tore his pectoral muscle in the 20-9 loss to the Saints, the Vikings placed Fusco, their starting right guard, on injured reserve, sidelining him until 2015.

"It's disappointing that my season has come to an end," said Fusco, who signed a five-year contract extension earlier this month. "I had high expectations for this year for my team and for me, as well."

Fusco was blocking down on a Saints defender in the second half of Sunday's game and felt a pop in his chest as he grappled with the defender. "I knew something was wrong right away," said Fusco, who had never felt something like that before. He stayed in the game for two more plays before taking the injury to head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman. After all, Fusco could no longer lift his arm.

Fusco will have surgery in New York on Monday and his recovery time will take about four months.

"I've always been healthy my whole life. I'm very disappointed. It's something that's new to me," said Fusco, who has already talked to veteran Vikings teammates who have been on injured reserve. "So I have to get surgery and go from there. Rehab, work hard and come back stronger next year."

Fusco expects to rehab at Winter Park so he can feel as much of a part of the team as possible.

"If I'm not around here, I'll drive myself nuts," said Fusco, one of the team's best linemen. "I love the game of football and I'm just going to be around here with the guys and do as much as I can."