By Brian Murphy
St. Paul Pioneer Press
MINNEAPOLIS - The wait is almost over for Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. Almost as in Sunday morning in Buffalo.
The team should learn shortly before kickoff of their game against the Bills whether the linebacker’s broken ribs have healed sufficiently for him to return to the lineup following a three-game absence.
Greenway was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report, meaning he officially has a 50-50 chance of playing after fully practicing in the team’s past four workouts.
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“It’s the most frustrating injury I’ve ever had,” Greenway said. “What do you do? Just sit around and wait for it to take care of itself. If there’s a way, I promise I’ll be out there.”
He was injured Sept. 14 against New England, suffering broken ribs and a broken left hand in that game. Greenway played the following week against New Orleans but was ineffective, mostly because of the ribs.
Pain tolerance is the biggest issue. Greenway said he is “taking precautions” but would not elaborate.
“We’ll have to see how it goes and go from there,” he said. “It comes down to where it’s at and making sure you don’t hurt yourself worse and damage it more.”
Coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday he wants to have a candid conversation with Greenway about how he’s feeling before deciding whether to activate him.
“Sitting down with Zim is sort of a funny process,” said Greenway, who started 90 consecutive games before being sidelined Week 4. “It’s about a 10-second conversation where he just says what he needs to say and you walk away and just accept it.
“After the New Orleans game he made the right call,” Greenway said. “Obviously, I needed a few weeks, and it’s progressing the way everyone thought it would, but there’s not much you can do for it.”
Zimmer missed Friday’s practice and his final news conference of the week to have a minor medical procedure. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner spoke about the team’s injuries.
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“It’s going to be a deal where we make a decision Sunday morning,” Turner said of Greenway.
Gerald Hodges, who has started in Greenway’s place the past three games, is out with a hamstring injury. If Greenway cannot play against the Bills, Audie Cole most likely will start at weakside linebacker.
Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd also is questionable with elbow and ankle injuries. Defensive end Corey Wootton did not practice all week because of a back injury, but he is probable.
The Pioneer Press is a media partner with the Forum News Service
