MANKATO, Minn. — Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph insisted he wasn’t bucking for an endorsement deal when he recently extolled the virtues of a certain fast-food restaurant.

“I’m a frequent (visitor) at Chipotle in Wayzata,” Rudolph said. “They pretty much know me by name now, so that’s one of my favorite places to go get food.”

Rudolph used to like a lot of fast-food restaurants, but he has changed his ways, altering his diet this year. He said Chipotle still meets his requirements since he can get brown rice and organic vegetables there.

Rudolph missed 15 of Minnesota’s 32 games over the past two seasons because of injuries. He has geared everything now toward playing an entire season.

“I’m doing everything that I can to put myself in a situation to be healthy every Sunday,” Rudolph said. “For me, it’s just about eating cleaner; my weight never has been an issue. … For me, it’s about eating food that will help me recover faster and maker sure that I’m getting the proper amount of protein and carbohydrates in my body after a workout.”

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Rudolph used to gobble cheeseburgers and pizza, but he has given those up — even if it has been a difficult transition. So Rudolph isn’t exactly a fixture at Pieology Pizzeria, which is across the street from where the Vikings train at Minnesota State Mankato and owned by tackle Matt Kalil.

Rudolph missed eight games in 2013 because of a broken foot. He sat out seven last year following surgery for a sports hernia.

Those short seasons were coming off his best year, in 2012, when he made the Pro Bowl, catching 53 passes in his second season in the NFL. Derailed by the injuries, he barely had more catches in the past two years combined, grabbing 30 in 2013 and 24 in 2014.

“When you’re hurt, it’s like you’re not part of the team,” Rudolph said. “You’re in the training room. You’re doing everything you can to get better. … But when you get through adversity, you’re only stronger after it.”

Early last season, Rudolph said he considered himself the best tight end in the NFL, and the Vikings seemed to agree. He was signed in July 2014 to a five-year, $36.5 million contract extension.

Rudolph is determined to show he is worth the money.

“I think Kyle’s having a good camp,” offensive coordinator Norv Turner said. “I think Kyle’s getting ready to really have a productive season.”

Turner said Rudolph’s new diet has helped.

“I think he’s playing stronger,” Turner said. “I think that’s helping him. And I think his endurance is better, so the routes he’s running early in practice, he’s not getting as fatigued and he’s running the same type of routes late in practice and running them with good speed.”

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.