Minnesota Vikings: 5 Players Who Need to Get Healthy During Bye Week

Injuries and football are basically synonymous. However, aside from season-ending injuries to right guard Brandon Fusco (torn pectoral) and quarterback Matt Cassel (foot surgery), the Minnesota Vikings (4-5) are relatively healthy at this point in the season.

Minnesota will want all its players at full health when it travels to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears (3-5) next weekend.

Fortunately, only tight end Kyle Rudolph—who has been out since Week 4—was sidelined for last weekend's win over the Washington Redskins (3-6).

Nevertheless, not all injuries show up on the injury report, as many Vikings are likely suffering from minor injuries. With that said, an extra week off to relax and heal should do quite a bit of good for everybody.

Here are the players the Vikings need to be at 100 percent when they come out of their bye to face the Bears in Week 11.

Josh Robinson, Cornerback

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Following a couple of sloppy seasons playing slot cornerback in Leslie Frazier's defensive scheme, Josh Robinson has really shined in his first season under Mike Zimmer.

Despite being the team's No. 3 cornerback behind Xavier Rhodes and Captain Munnerlyn, Robinson has arguably been the best of the three in coverage. In fact, he's ranked as the 27th-best (subscription required) cover cornerback in the NFL and the best on the Vikings. Munnerlyn ranks 34th and Rhodes 63rd.

With Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery on the horizon, the Vikings will need their best cover man completely healthy.

Robinson did play 51 snaps against the Redskins last weekend, only five less than Rhodes, but he did appear on the team's injury report with an ankle injury earlier in the week.

This type of injury tends to linger, especially for skill position players like Robinson, due to the amount of consistent pressure players put on their ankles. The team's bye week will allow Robinson extra time off his feet, which should help him feel better moving forward.

Robinson may be listed as a backup, but he plays a large amount of snaps every week and is a critical part of the Vikings' No. 4-ranked pass defense. Having him 100 percent healthy would be a huge plus.

Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle

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Like Robinson, Sharrif Floyd played—and played extremely well—against the Redskins this past Sunday. However, he did practice on a limited basis heading into the weekend.

Most recently, Floyd has been slightly slowed by an ankle injury. He has also dealt with elbow and shoulder injuries throughout this season. Simply put, Floyd and his massive 6'3", 305-pound frame could use a bit of extra rest before team's second half of the season.

The former first-round pick is in the midst of a breakout season in his second year with the Vikings. Alongside veteran nose tackle Linval Joseph, Floyd has been a destructive force—especially in recent weeks.

He has recorded four sacks to date and is currently ranked as the 10th-best (subscription required) defensive tackle in the NFL.

The Vikings defense has recorded 30 sacks this season, which is currently the NFL's highest total, and 22 have come from the defensive line. While Floyd has contributed only four of these sacks, he has played a major role in forcing opposing quarterbacks into the hands of teammates.

Floyd is already playing at a high level despite multiple nagging injuries, and a fully healthy Floyd would likely be even more lethal.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver

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Although Cordarrelle Patterson has not appeared on Minnesota's injury report since Week 7, his recent performances suggest he may be playing injured.

While Patterson has played in all nine of the team's games this season, he was a limited participant in practice with a hip injury earlier in the season.

There is a very real possibility that his hip is still giving him problems, as he has not shown the burst that earned him his nickname "Flash" both when returning kicks and as a wide receiver. Brian Hall of Fox Sports North made the same observation during the team's victory over the Redskins:

"

Patterson can't be healthy right now. There is no burst at all.

— Brian Hall (@MNBrianHall) November 2, 2014"

Patterson was targeted seven times during this game but only managed to haul in one catch.

Naturally, part of this horrible reception-target ratio is on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the team attempting to force the ball into his hands, but some of this blame falls on Patterson's shoulders as well.

There is no definitive proof that Patterson is being slowed by his hip injury—or something else—but it is extremely possible.

Regardless, an extra week of rest will do the second-year wide receiver some good as he aims to have a much larger impact moving forward this season.

Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback

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After suffering an ankle injury late in the game during Minnesota's victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Teddy Bridgewater was forced to miss the team's Week 5 contest with the Green Bay Packers.

He would appear on the injury report again in Week 6 but would ultimately play that weekend. Since then, Bridgewater has not appeared at all on the team's injury report, but given the amount of big hits he has taken due to ineffective pass-blocking, he could probably use some extra rest.

Bridgewater was sacked three times last weekend, which actually is an improvement from many of the team's offensive line performance. Nevertheless, the blitz-happy Redskins managed a number of heavy hits on the rookie quarterback.

He even had the wind knocked out of him at one point, as he would later confirm to Tom Powers of the Pioneer Press, causing Vikings fans to gasp as they watched their rookie quarterback slowly get back to his feet.

Bridgewater has been sacked 18 times (subscription required) this season, which is the 11th-highest total in the NFL despite playing in only six games this season. In addition, he has been hit five times while throwing the ball.

Being hit 23-plus times in five-plus games does not amount to a very healthy average. He has certainly earned a little extra time on his couch.

His ankle, as referenced earlier, could probably use some extra rest too. Bridgewater may not appear on the injury report, but he has certainly been quite a bit more reluctant to take off with the football since sustaining his ankle injury.

According to ESPN.com, Bridgewater rushed the ball 11 times in his first two games compared to just eight times over the past four games. While this may simply be a product of him attempting to remain in the pocket longer, it is not unreasonable to suggest his ankle may still be giving him some trouble.

Regardless of whether he is completely healthy or not, an extra week off to rest should provide the Vikings with a fully healthy Bridgewater against the Bears.

Kyle Rudolph, Tight End

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With Brandon Fusco and Matt Cassel not expected to return this season, tight end Kyle Rudolph has been the only player the team has been waiting to return from injury.

Tabbed as Minnesota's tight end of the future after receiving a five-year, $36.5 million contract extension this past offseason, Rudolph has missed the majority of the 2014 season with a groin injury that required sports hernia surgery.

Fortunately, there is a very real possibility that the Vikings will get their No. 1 tight end back on the field in Week 11 against the Bears.

This has been the "if everything goes as planned" return week, as noted by Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune:

"

The team's bye week is Week 10, so if everything goes as planned with rehab, Kyle Rudolph could be ticketed for a Week 11 return. #Vikings

— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) October 10, 2014"

While Chase Ford and Rhett Ellison have played very well in his absence, Rudolph has the size and athletic ability to be an elite tight end in this league.

His return likely will not relegate the pass-catching Ford and run-blocking Ellison to the bench, as offensive coordinator Norv Turner will have no issue incorporating all three into the team's offense.

Given what we have seen from Ford in recent weeks and the amount of confidence Bridgewater has expressed in him, the Vikings may have a deadly two-TE formation moving forward with Rudolph as his partner.

If nothing else, Rudolph's return gives Bridgewater the safety net he was expected to have.

With the offensive line playing miserably for the large part of this season, Adrian Peterson a non-factor due to suspension and Rudolph out with an injury, Bridgewater has not been able to benefit from any of the assets he was supposed to have entering the 2014 season.

Getting Rudolph back on the field would finally change that.

Though it is not a certainty that Rudolph will return against the Bears next weekend, it appears to be an awfully realistic possibility. As noted by Vensel, he has been practicing and expects—but did not guarantee—to be on the field in Week 11.

The Vikings and Bridgewater would be thrilled to have him, as Rudolph's past two Soldier Field appearances have resulted in eight catches, 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Advanced statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

For more Vikings news and analysis, follow me on Twitter @RobertReidellMN.