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With Matt Kalil out, T.J. Clemmings is Vikings' new left tackle

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Lost in the fervor over Adrian Peterson's knee surgery, the Minnesota Vikings' new left tackle worked by himself in the corner of the team's practice facility on Wednesday afternoon, pantomiming moves against an invisible defensive end.

The fate of Sam Bradford -- the quarterback the Minnesota Vikings didn't think they'd have -- is now at least partially the responsibility of T.J. Clemmings, the blind-side protector the team didn't expect it would have to use. Clemmings, who was pressed into starting duty at right tackle last season once Phil Loadholt tore his Achilles tendon, is now the team's left tackle because of the hip injury that put Matt Kalil on injured reserve Wednesday.