Vikings center Garrett Bradbury is in his fourth professional season, but the year was interrupted by a troublesome lower back injury. He has missed the final two games due to injury and suffered some setbacks when he sprained his back in a car accident after Saturday’s game.
Bradbury told reporters Tuesday that it was a minor accident caused by another driver skidding on an icy road. Everyone involved was fine, but Bradbury’s back was a little tense. He’s still working closely with the Vikings medical staff and going through things day by day ahead of Saturday’s game against the Giants.
Kevin O’Connell had Sunday and Monday off following the Vikings’ marathon comeback win over the Colts. Bradbury was the only player not to participate in Tuesday’s drill. Linebackers Eric Kendricks (hip) and Brian Asamoah (ankle) were limited.
O’Connell was asked on Monday about the possibility of bringing Bradbury back to the Giants and gave a rather inconclusive answer.
“We’ll see how he does,” O’Connell said. “It’s really just a matter of the unique nature of a lower back injury. It’s hard to really predict at times, but I know he’s doing everything he can to try and recover and hopefully that will be a reward for us when we can get him back. There. I think Austin Schlottmann had a really good game for Garrett the other day.”
Schlotterman, who was signed by the Vikings this offseason after four seasons with the Broncos, has done well over the past two weeks — but he’s significantly below Bradbury. He gave up nine pressures in those two games and isn’t nearly at the same level of athlete as Bradbury, limiting his performance in the run game.
Bradbury doesn’t appear to be ready to play Saturday, which means Schlotterman will make his third straight start. However, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice reports will shed more light on Bradbury’s chances.
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