Vikings Blocker Exits After 1 Year
Last offseason, Minnesota’s offensive line was supposed to be “fixed” after investments in both free agency and the draft, but ultimately, it was one of the Vikings’ weaknesses once again. Injuries frequently decimated the unit and backups played way more than they should have.
One of those was backup swing tackle Justin Skule. Supposed to be the bridge starter early in the season and then envisioned to be a bench player behind Christian Darrisaw, he ended up playing a whopping 578 offensive snaps (61%).
It will be his lone Vikings season, as the experienced alternate has returned to Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers announced on Monday, “Skule is back in session in Tampa. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the signing of veteran offensive tackle Justin Skule, who previously played for the team from 2022-24. Skule spent the 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings, appearing in 16 games and making nine starts.”
Skule, 29, was a 6th-round pick in 2019 and he spent his first three seasons with the 49ers. In his first two campaigns, his role was similar to the one he had in 2025 with the Vikings. He served as a backup lineman who had to play more than the franchise hoped, starting 8 games as a rookie and 4 in his sophomore season.
Unfortunately, Skule suffered a torn ACL entering Year 3 and missed the entire season on IR. A year later, the 49ers waived him ahead of his fourth year in the league. That’s when his first stop in Tampa Bay began. Only a single appearance in 2022 was followed by playing in all 34 contests over the next two years, logging another 5 starts.
With the Vikings, he played 16 games and added 9 starts to his NFL resume. Darrisaw was in and out of the lineup all year and Skule replaced him in most games. He also got some run on the right side with Brian O’Neill dealing with some injuries as well.
His play was mostly underwhelming, especially compared to the level at which Darrisaw and O’Neill can perform when healthy. Still, he played like a backup. Nobody should’ve expected starting-caliber play from a backup with a $2 million salary.
SI’s Buccaneers writer River Wells commented, “Skule spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings, starting nine games for them. Per Pro Football Focus, he had a decent season, netting an overall grade of 65.7. Now, he comes back to Tampa Bay, but he might not have the same role he had previously.”
For his entire career, Skule was a backup offensive tackle. He could get the chance to compete.
“Last year,” Wells added, “the Buccaneers turned to Ben Chukwuma at swing tackle after previously going with Charlie Heck. Now that Heck is gone, Skule will compete with Chukwuma for that spot, but whether or not he’s able to win that job back depends on how well he does in training camp. Chukwuma graded out at 62.5 from PFF, but he is younger and could take a jump in his second NFL season in 2026, so it will likely be tough competition for Skule.”
The Vikings, meanwhile, went in another direction, signing Ryan Van Demark from the Buffalo Bills. He’ll cost more than Skule did last year and the Vikings appear to think he’ll be an upgrade at the backup tackle spot.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.