Michael Pierce is 'super excited' for first game with Vikings

Concerns over COVID-19 led Michael Pierce to opt out of the 2020 NFL season. An offseason calf strain slowed his start to training camp, and the Vikings' decision to rest starters in the first preseason game meant Pierce was watching, not playing, in last Saturday's exhibition opener against the Broncos.

Now, at last, Pierce's first game for the Vikings is on the way.

The nose tackle said coaches have told him he'll play in the Vikings' second game against the Colts on Saturday night, when their top offensive and defensive units are expected to get their most work of the preseason. Even if the game won't have any bearing on the Vikings' record this season, it will mean plenty to Pierce, who hasn't played in a game since the Ravens' AFC divisional playoff loss to the Titans on Jan. 11, 2020.

"Super excited," he said. "I'm just counting down the days and making sure I tighten everything up for Saturday."

Pierce has been waiting so long to make his debut that the Vikings' defensive front looks almost completely different than the one they planned to field after signing him in March of 2020. He'll line up now next to Dalvin Tomlinson as part of the Vikings' effort to rebuild their defense with two massive run stoppers in the middle of their line.

Assistant head coach Andre Patterson, however, has stressed the fact both tackles can help the Vikings' pass rush, and though Pierce has never produced more than 21 pressures in a season (according to Pro Football Focus), he's confident the Vikings' scheme will allow him to do more.

"So I played in Baltimore, they have a lot of great, powerful tackles: Haloti Ngata, Brandon Williams, Lawrence Guy who [now] plays for the Patriots," Pierce said. "That defense is driven by outside linebackers. I played with Elvis Dumervil, Terrell Suggs, Matt Judon — a whole bunch of guys that come off the edge — and they want their nose guards to get great A-gap push.

"One of the reasons I signed here was because Dre, when he was recruiting me to come here, told me he believed in my abilities and he believed that I could do a little bit more than that. I just wanted to come in and show him that he was right for what he saw on film. It's just about me growing as a player and getting better and helping the team, not only in the run game but against the pass, as well."

Pierce's only game at U.S. Bank Stadium came during the Ravens' 24-16 loss to the Vikings on Oct. 22, 2017; he'll finally play there as a member of the home team Saturday, in front of the fans he said have been behind him for the past 17 months.

"Oh man: The fans, it's been overwhelming," said Pierce, 28. "The love on social media, even though I sat out last year, people were encouraging me — people I've never met before, never spent a day in Minnesota outside OTAs this year. It's a really, really big fan base, really big community, even when I'm walking downtown or going to the grocery store, it's super cool. I'm a people person, I love people, and I'm loving it. The Skol chant was awesome to hear [last Saturday]. The stands will be more packed in the regular season and I'm looking forward to everything, really."