Phil Loadholt has gone from being the biggest player on the roster to one of the Vikings' biggest fans.
The 6-foot-8, 345-pound tackle was lost for the season in an August exhibition game because of a torn left Achilles' tendon. Speaking to the media Monday for the first time since the injury, Loadholt said he was down initially but doing much better.
"It's tough, man. You definitely want to be out there helping your teammates," he said. "But all I can do right now is just focus on the rehab and support those guys as much as I can and just be a fan for them.