EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards is working hard to get his right knee healthy enough to play in the NFC championship game Sunday at New Orleans.
Edwards was held out of Wednesday’s practice because of the injury.
He was hurt in the third quarter of last weekend’s playoff win over Dallas, after recording three sacks, five quarterback hurries, eight tackles and a forced fumble. Edwards spent eight hours in the training room getting treatment Wednesday. He says his knee “is good.” All-pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams was also held out of practice because of a knee injury.
Other Vikings limited by injuries were receiver Bernard Berrian (ankle), guard Steve Hutchinson (shoulder), linebacker Ben Leber (knee) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot).
Jets’ Ellis misses practice.
New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis sat out practice because of a broken left hand, but is expected to play in the AFC championship game Sunday at Indianapolis.
Ellis broke the hand on the Jets’ first defensive play in their 17-14 victory at San Diego last weekend, but he returned to the game with a cast wrapped up like a club.
Ellis said he will have surgery to have screws inserted after the game against the Colts. If the Jets make it to the Super Bowl, Ellis will have two weeks to have the skin heal properly.
• Braylon Edwards hopes to finish his career with the Jets amid a published report Wednesday that the team will tender an offer to the receiver after the season.
Newsday, citing an anonymous source, reported that the Jets plan to place a contract tender on Edwards, a restricted free agent in March, that would require another team to give New York first- and third- round picks if it signs him.
“I hadn’t heard anything about it, but if that’s something they’re definitely doing, I’m excited,” Edwards said.
