Vikings Hopeful Kyle Rudolph Can Return This Week
By Dan Zinski
A quick status update on tight end Kyle Rudolph, who has been out since week 4 with a groin injury.
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After Monday’s practice session, head coach Mike Zimmer reported that Rudolph was able to do some team drills and said the team is hopeful Rudolph will be on the field for this weekend’s tilt with the reeling Bears.
Rudolph suffered an injured groin in week 3 against New Orleans and was forced to have sports hernia surgery. Week 11 was targeted as the possible date for Rudolph’s return.
With week 11 upon us, it seems Rudolph is on-track to meet that goal.
Since Rudolph went out, the Vikings gone more and more to tight end Chase Ford, who stepped up in a big way two weeks ago against Washington. Rhett Ellison has also chipped in with some big receptions.
Rudolph is certainly a potentially major weapon for Teddy Bridgewater but the emergence of Ford means there is slightly less urgency about getting Rudolph back on the field.
If Rudolph still needs another week to recuperate, it’s probably not that big a deal. The quality of the defense the Vikings will be facing this weekend also factors into this.
The Vikings should have no problem putting up points on that dismal Bears D, even without Kyle Rudolph. Down the road though, the Vikings will need Rudolph and Ford and all their other weapons at their disposal.