Minnesota Vikings optimistic Chad Greenway can play against Saints despite broken hand

As if the off-the-field issues were not enough for the Minnesota Vikings this week, they also face the possibility of playing against the New Orleans Saints on the road without their captain on defense.

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Linebacker Chad Greenway, a longtime member of the Minnesota defense and the one who makes the calls on that side of the ball, was diagnosed with a broken hand after the team’s week 2 loss to the New England Patriots.

While that injury would seem to obviously put Greenway’s status in doubt for a game the following Sunday, the Vikings are still optimistic that he will be able to suit up. Head coach Mike Zimmer said as much after the team’s practice on Thursday.

From Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press:

"Vikings coach Mike Zimmer expressed continued optimism Thursday that linebacker Chad Greenway will play Sunday at New Orleans despite a broken hand.Greenway, hurt last Sunday against New England, hasn’t practiced all week. But Zimmer said he’s hopeful he’ll practice “a little bit” Friday.“He feels a lot better today,” Zimmer said. “He didn’t practice, but he feels a lot better. He was running around pretty good, so we’ll see how he does (Friday). … He’s tough. He’ll be all right.”"

One imagines that this leaves open the possibility of Greenway playing with a club on the broken hand. Anytime a defender plays with a club, it is great for intimidation purposes but it is presumably bad in every other sense since, you know, football players use their hands a lot.

We will have to see if Greenway practices Friday or not. If he does, even on a limited basis, it sounds like he might be out there Sunday against the Saints.

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