Earlier this year, Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph was held out of six games following hernia surgery. He made his return in week 11 against the Chicago Bears and didn’t look like the kind of player he usually is. That trend has continued through this week, as during his last 4 weeks Rudolph has accumulated a total of 7 catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. Much of that might be attributed to him not being fully healthy.
Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner talked about Rudolph’s current state of health in an article by Chris Tomasson by the Pioneer Press. Here’s what he had to say:
"Nov 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Carolina Panthers secondary coach Steve Wilks talks with Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner before the game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports“I don’t think he’ll be all the way back until we get into camp next year,” Turner said. “When you have that type of procedure, I think it takes a while to recover. I think he’s working hard at it, and he’s a competitive guy, but he doesn’t have the same quickness and burst (as) when we broke camp. … He’s doing a nice job playing at less than 100 percent.”"
When healthy, Kyle Rudolph can be a game changer for the Vikings. He provides a big target at tight end that is a reliable pass catcher.
The team will look to get backup tight end Chase Ford more involved in the offense since Rudolph isn’t 100% healthy. That could be a good thing, since Chase Ford has shown to be on the same page with rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the past.
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