Four-year veteran offensive lineman Will Fires signed a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Fries, a former seventh-round pick, spent the entirety of his professional career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Will Fries, Minnesota Vikings, Agree to Contract
After establishing himself as the unquestioned starter in 2023, Will Fries entered the 2024 season as the Colts starting right guard. Unfortunately, his time on the field was short-lived, as the veteran suffered a season-ending fractured tibia in Week 5. In his absence, the Colts missed the playoffs for the third time in his four years with the team.
Will Fries originally entered the league as a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Selected by the Indianapolis Colts, the Penn State product spent the majority of his rookie season on the bench. In total, Fries appeared in just three games without making a start. The Colts went 9-8 but missed the playoffs thanks to a Week 18 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Fries entered the 2022 season as a backup but earned the starting right guard midway through the season. Appearing in 16 games while making nine starts, the Penn State product was one of the few bright spots for an otherwise terrible Colts team. Overall, Indianapolis went 4-12-1 and fired head coach Frank Reich after nine games.
The Indianapolis Colts brought in a new head coach and quarterback for the 2023 season, but that didn’t stop Will Fries from keeping the right guard job. Starting and appearing in all 17 games, the veteran helped guide the team to an unlikely winning season. After losing rookie Anthony Richardson early in the year, backup Gardner Minshew guided the team to a 9-8 record. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to make the playoffs.
Since signing his rookie contract, Will Fries has appeared in 41 games while making 31 starts. While he has established himself as a quality starter, he has yet to make the postseason.
Main Photo: Grace Smith – USA Today Sports
