Tight end Kyle Rudolph didn't practice during the Vikings' two bye-week sessions, as he continued to rest a right ankle injury that has limited him in the Vikings' past three games. A weekend off, though, has Rudolph confident he can be close to fully recovered for the Vikings' first playoff game.
Rudolph played only 81 snaps in the Vikings' past three games, working mostly as a receiver as the ankle injury limited him in blocking situations.
Had the Vikings not had a first-round bye, Rudolph said, "I can't tell you what Plan B would have been.
"I just would have been out there and been a terrible football player, like I have been the last three weeks. Getting to this week off is big for me from a health standpoint. It's never going to be perfect, obviously. You're always battling; you probably don't feel good until June or July. But it'll be good enough to get a run in the playoffs."
Vikings sign Zylstra
The Vikings signed wide receiver Brandon Zylstra, a New London-Spicer graduate who played at Concordia (Moorhead) before going to the CFL, to a reserve/future contract Wednesday.
Zylstra led the CFL with 100 catches for 1,687 yards during his second year with the Edmonton Eskimos; he'll try to follow Adam Thielen's path from central Minnesota to a successful NFL career.
"If you're familiar with a small-school Minnesotan who plays wide receiver making a splash in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, then brace yourself for the second one," said Blake Baratz, Zylstra's agent. "I'm really happy for Brandon, he's earned this opportunity and I can't wait to see what he does with it."
Bears to interview Edwards
The Bears, who are scheduled to interview Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur on Friday, also will talk to defensive coordinator George Edwards on Thursday.
Edwards, who helped preside over the NFL's top-ranked defense, was on the Fritz Pollard Alliance's list of six coordinators who could make strong minority head coaching candidates this year.