Herrera Likely Out For Most Of Preseason
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said on Friday that he doesn't expect right guard Anthony Herrera to get on the field until late in the preseason.
Herrera had offseason surgery on a torn ACL and a torn triceps muscle, but Frazier said the knee injury is the one that is still recovering.
"He seems to be fine with his upper body strength and the things he has to do with his triceps," Frazier said. "It's more about the knee."
Herrera started 10 games last season before he was injured against Green Bay on Nov. 21. The tentative timetable appears to be to get Herrera in a game by the third or fourth preseason game, with the goal being to have him ready for the season opener at San Diego on Sept. 11. Herrera has not yet been cleared to start practicing in training camp.
"Whether we can get to that, I don't know," Frazier said. "But we'd like to try to get him for that San Diego game. But it will hinge on whether or not we get a chance to see him in this preseason at all."
Second-year pro Chris DeGeare has been getting the bulk of the work with the first-team offense in practice while Herrera has been out. The Vikings also re-signed versatile swing man Ryan Cook on Wednesday, and he said he is aiming for the starting job there as well.
Frazier said it is still way too early in training camp to name a starter there and declared it an open competition for the job in between center John Sullivan and right tackle Phil Loadholt.
"We don't know what's going to happen with Anthony," Frazier said. "One of the reasons we signed Ryan was not just to be a backup guy because he can swing, but to give us some competition at the right guard position. He did some things down the stretch to make me think that he can compete for that job. Chris will have to step it up and compete."
Cornerback Cedric Griffin is also coming off a knee injury, but he is about four to six weeks ahead of Herrera in the rehab process and has been rotating in during practice. Frazier said Griffin will likely be held out of the preseason opener in Tennessee next weekend, but could see game time in the second game.
"Injuries are a part of this game," Griffin said. "If you get hurt, you get back up and continue to work hard. That's what I do. I work hard at what I do, I work hard for this team and for my family."
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