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The Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday activated Garrett Bradbury off the COVID-19 reserve list, a day after head coach Mike Zimmer said the center had returned to TCO Performance Center.
Bradbury, who is fully vaccinated, was placed on the list Nov. 4 and sat out the past two games. In his absence, Mason Cole started at center and played well, and Zimmer said Monday that practices this week will determine who starts against Green Bay on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Vikings also placed safety Josh Metellus on the COVID-19 reserve list, and he became the eighth Minnesota player put on the 53-man list or the COVID-19 practice squad reserve list in the past two weeks. There are now six on those lists, with Tuesday’s removal of Bradbury and tackle Timon Parris being taken off the practice squad list.
The Vikings made two other moves related to the practice squad. They signed fullback Garrett Groshek, a undrafted rookie from Wisconsin, to take the spot of Jake Bargas, who was placed on the COVID practice squad list Monday. And they released from the squad center Cohl Cabral, who had signed Nov. 6 in the wake of Bradbury’s absence.
The Vikings did not make a roster move on guard Dakota Dozier, who was placed on the COVID practice squad list Nov. 5 and hospitalized last week with COVID-related symptoms. Zimmer said on Monday Dozier was back at the facility, and Cole said he saw him and he was doing well.
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In addition to Metellus, Minnesota players off the 53-man roster still on the COVID list are safety Harrison Smith, linebacker Ryan Connelly and defensive end Kenny Willekes. Zimmer said Monday that Smith is expected back at the facility on Wednesday. The coach said Connelly is expected back on Wednesday or Thursday, and that Willekes’ situation is uncertain. Willekes, placed on the list last Friday, is fully vaccinated but needs two negative tests at least 24 hours apart this week to be able to play against the Packers.
Also Tuesday, the Vikings protected safety Myles Dorn and cornerback Tye Smith on the practice squad. Both played on special teams in last Sunday’s 27-20 win at the Los Angeles Chargers after being activated as COVID-19 replacements.
