NFL teams
Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Matt Kalil, plagued with knee injuries for 2 seasons, had January surgery

NFL, Minnesota Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil, who has struggled the past two seasons as he's dealt with persistent knee problems, underwent offseason surgery to clean things up once again.

Kalil saw Dr. James Andrews for arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees in January, according to a USA Today report. He also had a procedure in March called Regenexx in which blood is removed, processed and re-injected into the knee. Kalil also reportedly underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy.

The operations came after Kalil battled a knee injury for a second consecutive season. The former Pro Bowler admitted at several points in 2014 that his left knee was still bothering him following surgery in May, and the health issues seemed to affect his confidence, as well. Coach Mike Zimmer said at the NFL owners meetings in March that Kalil "feels very healthy again, so that's a good sign.

"His knees were hurting a lot, bothering him, but he'll be important to our success, as well -- making sure that he plays good, which will allow us to play better," Zimmer said.

The Vikings, who drafted Kalil fourth overall in 2012, exercised the tackle's fifth-year option on Monday and are scheduled to pay him nearly $11.1 million if he plays on the option in 2016. The option year is currently guaranteed against injury only, and the Vikings can release Kalil without penalty before the start of the 2016 league year.

If Kalil can stay healthy and return to his Pro Bowl form of 2012, though, there could be a lucrative deal waiting for him down the road; his former college teammate, Tyron Smith, got an eight-year, $109 million deal from the Dallas Cowboys last summer after the team took him 11th overall in 2011.

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