Letroy

Guion

The aggravated battery charge stemmed from an incident at his residence last fall. Guion will also serve three years’ probation and complete a court mandated domestic violence intervention program. Guion last played for the Packers in 2016 and started 112 regular season games across nine professional seasons.

Guion drew three starts last season, two while filling in during Kevin Williams’ two-game suspension. A promising but inconsistent rotational tackle, Guion has flashed in limited snaps since entering the league in 2008 as a fifth-round pick.

Still just 24, Guion was used mostly as a three-technique tackle in 2011. He appeared in all 16 games, but made just three starts. He graded out positively against the run by Pro Football Focus, however, and thinks he’ll fare better at nose tackle. “I can see the ball better. Read the offensive line better,” Guion said. The news could spell the end of Remi Ayodele’s time in Minnesota.

He won’t suit up for Friday’s tilt with the Chargers. It will be Guion’s second straight exhibition absence after he hurt his knee in the opener, and has his Week 1 status in jeopardy. Veteran Fred Evans is starting in his absence.

Minnesota’s starting nose tackle, Guion is in danger of missing the Vikings’ next two preseason games. Coach Leslie Frazier fully expects him to be ready for Week 1. Guion is backed up by veteran Fred Evans and seventh-round rookie Trevor Guyton.

“The coaches keep telling me that, hey, we need to give Fred a shot to compete for the No. 1 job,” said Leslie Frazier. At nose tackle -- a run-stopping position -- 6-foot-4, 305-pound Evans would give Minnesota a stouter option after its run defense became a liability down the stretch last season. Guion is a converted three-technique gap shooter. His base salary is $2.45 million.

With Kevin Williams and Sharrif Floyd swapping reps at the three-technique, coach Leslie Frazier said that nose tackle is Guion and Evans’ job to lose. While Guion was the starter last season, Pro Football Focus graded Evans as the superior player. Both received reps in the first-team base defense during OTAs.

Guion, 26, started all 13 games he appeared in and notched a meager 21 tackles and one sack from the nose tackle spot. He split time there with Fred Evans and Kevin Williams. Entering the final year of a three-year deal, Guion is scheduled to count $4.3 million against the cap. The Vikings could save $4 million by cutting him. Minnesota needs to upgrade its defense however possible.

Guion manned the nose for the Packers in 2014 when B.J. Raji missed the entire season due to injury. With Raji back last year, Guion kicked back to 3-4 end but was unable to find as much success. Raji retired this past offseason, leaving nose duties to Guion. He set career-highs in tackles and sacks in 2014.

He’s been ruled out for the game. Rookie Kenny Clark and Christian Ringo will replace Guion.