By Joseph Gunther
Linebacker Chad Greenway missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices with a broken hand, but returned Friday in limited action. However, the linebacker believes he will play Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.
Following practice on Friday, Greenway met head coach Mike Zimmer and head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman. Greenway was also on the injury report with a rib injury. Zimmer considers him a game-time decision at this point.
“We’ll see more on Sunday,” Zimmer said after practice Friday.
Greenway does not know when it happened, just sometime during last Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots at TCF Bank Stadium.
“It just started to really bother me swelling up, and something happened in the game,” Greenway said.
The ninth-year linebacker has 10 tackles, seven solo, and one pass defensed through two games this season.
Greenway has only missed 16 games in his career, every one of those came in his rookie after tearing his ACL in the preseason opener. He played through a wrist injury the final month or so of last season. Zimmer pointed out and Greenway did as well that this injury should not be linked to the wrist ailment.
“Little bit different situation, but we’ll deal with it,” Greenway said.
Following Wednesday’s practice cornerback Captain Munnerlyn talked about the importance of having Greenway at practice and in the lineup.
“Chad is a guy I rely on,” he said. “We’re always talking on the field. I need Chad to play, and I think he’ll be OK. Chad’s a warrior. I know he’s going to be out there Sunday.”
If something changes and Greenway is unable to play, second-year fourth-round draft pick Gerald Hodges would likely take his spot in the starting lineup.
The other startling injury revelation late this week was the limited participation wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson had Thursday with a chest injury. Zimmer said Thursday that Patterson has been dealing with it for awhile, but it should not be a concern on Sunday. He also said that the team discovered the injury at Thursday’s practice.
Zimmer said after Friday’s practice that he believes both defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (shoulder) and offensive tackle Phil Loadholt (ankle) will start on Sunday.
The Saints were without safety Marcus Ball (hamstring), center Jonathan Goodwin (elbow), linebacker David Hawthorne (ankle), running back Mark Ingram (hand) and fullback Erik Lorig (ankle) in practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Curtis Lofton (shoulder) was a limited participant. No updated information was available on the Saints’ official website as of early Friday afternoon.
The Complete injury Report
The Vikings listed Greenway (hand/rib) as a non-participant Thursday.
The team listed Floyd (shoulder), Loadholt (ankle), Patterson (chest), tight end Kyle Rudolph (abdomen) and linebacker Brandon Watts (knee) as limited participants.
They listed linebacker Michael Mauti (foot), cornerback Xavier Rhodes (groin) and wide receiver Rodney Smith (hamstring) as full participants.
For more Vikings news and updates, visit Vikings Central.
Joseph Gunther is an avid fan of Minnesota sports, including football, hockey and baseball. He covered a wide variety of sports while attending Hastings College in Hastings, Neb. While at Hastings College, he was a part of the first collegiate media group to broadcast a national tournament via television, radio, internet and newspaper at the 2004 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament. He grew up in the Twin Cities playing three years of varsity football in high school. Joseph is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
