For the past couple of weeks, packages have been piling up on the folding chair that sits in front of Sharrif Floyd's locker stall, which suggested that the oft-injured defensive tackle hasn't even been at Winter Park.
This morning, coach Mike Zimmer confirmed that Floyd had been away from the building for about 10 days rehabbing his latest knee injury. Zimmer added that Floyd did not have another procedure done, but defensive line coach Andre Patterson later said the team did have him meet with doctors.
Floyd was scheduled to return to the team sometime today, Zimmer said.
Floyd has been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery in September, seven weeks from today. Last month, Floyd was spotted doing activity on the side at practice, suggesting that he might be close to a return to practice. But recently, Floyd has not been spotted. And now we know why.
Still, even with Floyd back in town, Zimmer said he has "no idea" when Floyd, who has battled injuries throughout his four years with the Vikings, will be able to return to the practice field, let alone suit up in a game.
The Vikings, though, have kept him on their active roster all along. Asked about that, Zimmer said they didn't think Floyd would be out this long.
"We didn't think it was going to be six years' worth of hurt," he put it.
In other injury news, nose tackle Linval Joseph and cornerbacks Captain Munnerlyn and Marcus Sherels also were not practicing this morning. None of those players practiced yesterday, either.
