Dalton Risner played center and left tackle at Wiggins High School in Colorado and center and right tackle at Kansas State. The Denver Broncos took him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and he became a mainstay at left guard for four years.
So what about the right guard spot?
"I've never played right guard in my life," Risner said. "Never played a right guard snap in a game. Maybe in practice in college. I've done some work at right guard in the (NFL), but it's really been five years at left guard."
It appears that could change this season. Risner, who started 11 of 15 games at left guard for the Minnesota Vikings after signing in September, spent the opening day of training camp practicing at second-team right guard.
The Vikings retained restricted free agent Blake Brandel last March by signing him to a three-year, $9.5 million contract. Brandel was the first-team left guard on Wednesday and Ed Ingram returned at right guard.
This offseason marked the second consecutive year in which Risner found himself sitting on the free agent market as others signed. He accepted a $1.4 million base salary in late May to return to the Vikings but received no assurances.
"Nothing is laid out," he said.
The 29-year-old Risner wasn't complaining, rather just stating a fact. He has been in the NFL for six seasons and has yet to be on a team that has advanced to the playoffs. Risner's primary focus is on being on a winning team.
"I don't know where things will (end up)," he said. "Right now, I'm working at right guard. Whether I'm working for a backup position, maybe I am. Maybe I'm working for a starting job. I couldn't tell you. I'm just trying to work my ass off every day and see where I end up.
" ... Some may say, 'Why don't you ask questions? Why don't you ask, what position are you fighting for?' Man, that doesn't matter. For my vision and my goals, it doesn't matter what someone's trying to tell me what I'm going for. I know what I'm trying to do. I want to be on the field. I want to play."
Risner acknowledged that while he's still playing guard, switching sides isn't as easy as some think.
"It has made me respect the guys that are interior rotational guys that can play center, right guard, left guard," Risner said. "It's completely flip-flopped. I've got five years under my belt at left guard. It's like money. I'm not going to lie. But I felt really good today at right guard. I'm really happy."
Judd Zulgad is co-host of the Purple Daily Podcast and Mackey & Judd podcast at www.skornorth.com.
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