Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford was back at practice on Tuesday morning, Jan. 2, 2018. Photo by Andrew Krammer, Star Tribune
The Vikings held the first of two practices Tuesday during their first-round bye.
For the first time since Oct. 7, quarterback Sam Bradford was among his Vikings teammates again.
"I just want to see where he's at," head coach Mike Zimmer said Monday. "How he's moving, things like that. I hear he's moving good. I hear he's throwing the ball good. But that's all I do is hear. We'll just go about it and see how it goes."
Bradford's return to practice doesn't mean he's on track to play anytime soon. The Vikings would still need to activate him off injured reserve and they've already got two healthier quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart in starter Case Keenum and backup Teddy Bridgewater.
"It's way too early to say," Zimmer said when asked if Bradford could play this postseason. "We'll just see how it goes and where it's at. I'm not committed to say he's going to play, so we'll just see how things go. Things could happen. We win a game, someone gets hurt — you never know what could happen."
Bradford underwent surgery Nov. 7 on his left knee, a day before he was placed on injured reserve. He has played six quarters for the Vikings this season, most recently taking four sacks during the first half of the Oct. 9 win in Chicago before he was benched.
Center Pat Elflein (shoulder) returned to practice after he was sidelined during Sunday's regular season finale against the Bears.
A handful of Vikings were getting some rest Tuesday, including cornerback Xavier Rhodes, fullback C.J. Ham, tight end Kyle Rudolph, safety Anthony Harris and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen.
The Vikings will play host to a NFC wild-card winner from this weekend on Sunday, Jan. 14 at U.S. Bank Stadium.