Played on sprained ankle final three weeks of season
Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph has played three games on a sprained right ankle. He’s finally about to get some extra rest. Rudolph was in a walking boot after playing just 28 snaps in Minnesota’s 23-10 victory over Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings earned a first-round playoff bye as the NFC’s No. 2 seed, and he expects to feel a lot better when they next play Jan. 14 on their home field. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Nerdy Football Analysis: The Vikings’ first-round bye comes at a good time, and it’s obvious the ankle was a major factor in his slow finish as he played only 56 snaps combined in Week 16 and 17. If the week off allows him to move closer to 100 percent, he should resume being Minnesota’s top option in the red zone. With Minnesota among the favorites to make the Super Bowl, he should be among the more popular tight ends in non-DFS playoff leagues.
