Phil Loadholt has told the Vikings he plans to retire, a source confirmed.
Loadholt, 30, was placed on injured reserve in each of the previous two seasons, only playing in 11 of the team’s 32 regular-season games. In 2014, a torn pectoral ended his season after 11 games. In 2015, he tore his Achilles’ tendon during the preseason and was lost for the entire season.
Loadholt was back on the field for spring workouts and lined up as the first-team starting right tackle during practices open to the media. But after experiencing another injury-related setback in the past few weeks, the 6-foot-8, 345-pound tackle decided it was time to retire.