Report: Bradford may return soon
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Monday he believes that quarterback Sam Bradford’s left knee injury would not be long term but gave no timeline for a return.
“I know you guys want to ask me about all these things,” Zimmer told reporters, “but I don’t have a crystal ball. Wish I did. I’d call some games better.”
But NFL Network reported Monday the injury is believed to be a bone bruise rather than ligament damage, and that, pending how the quarterback responds to treatment, Bradford could be available Sunday against the Buccaneers.
Zimmer said the Vikings will not be looking to bring in another quarterbackwhile Bradford works his way back. That appears to eliminate any possibility that Colin Kaepernick could be brought in to try to give the Vikings a boost.
Backup Case Keenum struggled in the 26-9 loss to the Steelers on Sunday, going 20-for-37 for 167 yards.
Andrew Luck will miss his third consecutive game Sunday after being ruled out by Colts coach Chuck Pagano on Monday.
Pagano didn’t rule out the possibility of Luck coming back Wednesday, but acknowledged that doctors have not cleared Luck to participate.
Luck had surgery in January on a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
The Colts have used two starting quarterbacks, Scott Tolzien and Jacoby Brissett, in two weeks. Both are 0-1, putting the Colts in a 0-2 hole for the fourth consecutive year.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said tight end Greg Olsen had surgery Monday to repair a broken right foot.
Rivera wouldn’t speculate on how long Olsen will be out. However, the 32year-old tight end said after the Panthers’ 9-3 win over the Bills on Sunday that he expected to miss several weeks.
Olsen has never missed a game due to injury in 11 seasons.
A federal judge in Texas denied the NFL’s request to suspend his injunction that blocked a six-game suspension for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on Monday was expected and came after the NFL had already moved on to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans with the same request.
In his ruling, Mazzant criticized the NFL for not waiting for his decision after using the argument of premature filings against the players association in Elliott’s request for the injunction.
Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. was activated for the Giants’ game against the Lions on Monday night. It was the first time Beckham had played since spraining his left ankle Aug. 21 . ... Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski said his groin injury isn’t serious and that he’s “day to day” for Sunday’s game against the Texans . ... Falcons All-Pro edge rusher Vic Beasley could be out for up to three weeks with a hamstring sprain . ... 49ers S Eric Reid will miss at least Thursday night’s game against the Rams with a left knee injury.