Minnesota Vikings right guard Brandon Fusco will need about four months to recover from his upcoming surgery for his torn pectoral muscle.

Fusco says he’ll have the operation Monday with a specialist in New York. He was hurt while blocking last week in the game at New Orleans.

He says this is the first significant injury of his career and the first surgery of his life. Vladimir Ducasse will replace him in the starting lineup this Sunday against Atlanta.

Team athletic trainers have had their hands full this week. Tight end Kyle Rudolph had an operation Tuesday in Philadelphia to repair a sports hernia. Quarterback Matt Cassel was scheduled to visit a specialist Thursday in North Carolina about his broken left foot.