Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner is running the team today while coach Mike Zimmer attends the funeral of his father, Bill, in Naples, Fla.
The Vikings cancelled their morning walkthrough, but Turner spoke with reporters not long ago. He confirmed the confirmed reports that right tackle Phil Loadholt did indeed tear his left Achilles tendon and will miss the season. Turner did not know the date of the surgery or when it will be done.
Turner also gave further indication that the team has no intention at this point to go outside the organization to fill the right tackle spot. Turner expressed confidence in rookie fourth-round draft pick T.J. Clemmings, who stepped in for Loadholt and played well with the first and second units in Saturday's 26-16 preseason win over the Buccaneers at TCF Bank Stadium.
"He's an explosive player," Turner said. "He's got good feet. He uses his hands well. He's just inexperienced. That's the one thing you could say where he's got to catch up."
Turner was asked if the team is looking for outside veteran help. Naturally, he deferred that question to the people who actually make those decisions. But he also said:
"I'm sure we're going to look at all the different options that are there. But if T.J. plays like he did Saturday night and like he did in that first game and keeps growing as a player and continues to play well out here [in practice], he should be able to be a very competitive player in this league."
Other highlights from Turner …
– On Saturday night's game: "We got a week better that we were in the first game. A lot of our younger players are making progress."
