The last time Vikings rookie Ezra Cleveland played guard in a game before Sunday's 40-23 loss to the Falcons, he was a grade-school kid starring on both sides of the ball in Spanaway, Wash.
Or maybe in high school, he said.
"I don't think I ever played it in college," Cleveland said Tuesday via videoconference.
"Played right tackle a little bit, but never really played guard."
Cleveland, a left tackle at Boise State, hadn't played in a game since his college days last fall before making his Vikings debut Sunday at a new position: right guard.
He could stay after the bye week should guards Dru Samia (wrist) and Pat Elflein (thumb) remain sidelined.
On Monday, coach Mike Zimmer said Cleveland had "some moments he'd like to have back," between flashes of the athleticism that drew General Manager Rick Spielman into making him the 58th pick of the draft.
This spring, Spielman then declared Cleveland the left tackle of the future.