Kyle Rudolph Injury: MN Vikings TE will indeed be out 4-6 weeks

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) catches a pass and Green Bay Packers safety Morgan Burnett (42) tackles him in the second quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Packers win 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and it was an incredibly unfortunate injury for both him and the Vikings. Rudolph sustained the injury on a 31-yard touchdown pass that was just beastly, and he was diagnosed with a broken foot despite the fact that X-rays showed up negative. Further testing revealed a broken foot, but at least Rudolph was able to avoid a severe sprain.

His initial timeline was set at about a month by Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, but there wasn’t an exact timetable until FOX Sports’s Jay Glazer reported that the Vikings key pass-catcher will be out for 4-6 weeks. Now, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Chip Scoggins reports that Leslie Frazier confirms that Rudolph’s timetable to return is 4-6 weeks.

The Vikings will continue to roll with Christian Ponder as the starter over Josh Freeman and Matt Cassel, but any starting quarterback for the Vikings will feel the significant blow of losing Kyle Rudolph, who is a very talented pass-catching tight end. Disappointing veteran John Carlson will start for Rudolph over the next 4-6 weeks, and hopefully he can provide some solid play (especially in the red zone) for the Vikings offense. Rudolph had 313 passing yards and three touchdowns despite poor QB play this season, though, so there will definitely be a rather large drop-off.

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