CB Antoine Winfield (All B1G, All-American, Thorpe Award, Pro Bowl, All Pro)

[Jake]

Tough blow for Antoine and the Vikings. Nice break for the Steelers today...seems to happen for them a lot. :ohwell:

 

[billmac91]

Antoine was playing some of the best football of his career too. He has been ageless it seems.

Huge hole to fill for Minnesota...they were handling the Rat Birds last week until Winfield got injured, and then defense fell apart. It's amazing what a guy who plays run support like a LB and can cover like a blanket does for the defense.

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield hoping to be OK for Packers
By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune
Last update: October 25, 2009

Antoine Winfield left the locker room with a walking boot on his right foot Sunday, but the Vikings cornerback denied reports that he has a fractured foot and will be sidelined four to six weeks.

PITTSBURGH - Antoine Winfield left the locker room with a walking boot on his right foot Sunday, but the Vikings cornerback denied reports that he has a fractured foot and will be sidelined four to six weeks.

Winfield did not play in the Vikings' 27-17 loss to the Steelers, and it is unclear when he will return. ESPN reported that Winfield could be sidelined a month, but Winfield said three times that he only suffered a sprain and considers himself "day-to-day."

"It feels a lot better," Winfield said. "I was on crutches [until Friday]. Now I'm in the boot. I'm walking on it and not feeling any pain so my goal is to get back out here and play against the Packers."

Winfield hoping to be OK for Packers | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield mending ... slowly
Star cornerback likely sidelined another week or two
By Rick Alonzo
[email protected]
Updated: 11/10/2009

Cornerback Antoine Winfield celebrates after intercepting a pass at the MN 23 in the second quarter, as the Vikings defeat the Green Bay Packers 30-23 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on October 5, 2009 . At left is Green Bay's #80 Donald Driver, at right is the Viking's #20 safety Atari Bigby.(Staff Photo: Scott Takushi)

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield attended Monday's practice, but it wasn't clear how much he was able to do, if anything, while recovering from a fractured right foot.

Childress said Winfield "was out here moving around" during the portion of practice closed to the media. Winfield already was back in the building before practice ended, and he wasn't available to reporters.

Childress said Winfield is pushing himself to return, though.

"He's like most of our guys (who get injured)," Childress said. "They're not trying to malinger or anything like that. They're trying to get themselves back out there and get in the mix. He's no different. He has pushed it as hard as he possibly can under doctors' orders. The next part of it is getting out here and moving on this hard surface."

It would be surprising if Winfield plays Sunday against Detroit. It's more likely he could return Nov. 22 against Seattle or Nov. 29 against Chicago.

The Vikings are coming off a bye week, and Winfield has been out since he suffered the injury Oct. 18 against Baltimore.

All of the other players were on the field Monday except for practice squad receiver Vinny Perretta, who was absent because of "family issues," Childress said.

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield mending ... slowly - TwinCities.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield does light workout, nears return
By JUDD ZULGAD and CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: November 9, 2009

The cornerback is trying to get back on the field Sunday.

Antoine Winfield did some work on the side during Monday's light practice, but it remains uncertain when the Vikings' Pro Bowl cornerback will be able to return.

Winfield has missed two games because of a right foot injury suffered Oct. 18 against Baltimore. He stayed in the Twin Cities during the bye week to receive treatment.

The Vikings have a comfortable three-game lead in the NFC North and play host to the 1-7 Detroit Lions on Sunday, but coach Brad Childress said Winfield is pushing to get back on the field as soon as possible.

"Those guys' bodies talk to them," Childress said. "He's like most of our guys. They are not trying to malinger or anything like that. They are trying to get themselves back out there and get in the mix, and he's no different. He's pushed it as hard as he possibly can under doctors' orders. The next part of it is getting out here and moving on this hard surface."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/69623647.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU9PmP:QiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield practices but status unclear
By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune
Last update: November 12, 2009

Antoine Winfield returned to Vikings practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his right foot on Oct. 18, but it remains unclear whether the Pro Bowl cornerback will play Sunday against Detroit.

Winfield had limited participation in practice after doing some conditioning work on the side on Monday. Winfield suffered the injury against Baltimore on Oct. 18 and then missed the final two games before the bye week.

"He's done a great job of attacking this thing, and if at all possible he wouldn't miss one more snap," Vikings coach Brad Childress said.

Winfield was unavailable for comment.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/v...elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUdcOy_nc:DKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

 

[OSU_D/]

I had dinner with a member of the Vikings organization during the week. In stated everything we have come to know about Antoine since he was at OSU... and some of us Akron area people since his days at Garfield.

It was great to hear how important they feel he is to the team and how much they are looking forward to getting him back for the playoffs.

My only request was that the Vikings use Antoine in more commercials! But its tough to compete with Peterson, Favre and Allen.

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield not ready to return
By CHIP [email protected]
Last update: November 13, 2009
Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

Vikings Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield said he's not ready to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions but hopes to be on the field the following week against the Seattle Seahawks.

"I'm close," he said Friday in the locker room. "I've been working the last, what, four weeks, three weeks trying to get this injury [healed]. ... I feel like next week. I've been out the last couple of days running on it, testing it. It's good going forward, but I still have a little problem cutting. But I would say next week I should be OK."

Winfield injured his right foot in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 18. He missed the second half of that game and the two games before the last Sunday's bye.

"Of course it's frustrating," he said. "You want to get out there and help the guys win and play well. But it's all a process. This is a physical game, a rough sport. It's funny how my injury didn't happen with me hitting someone. I was at the line. I planted and tried to open up and my foot rolled. That was it. I thought it was my ankle at first, but it was the foot."

There were reports that Winfield fractured his foot, but both Winfield and the team described it as a sprain. Winfield said he feared it would be worse when it first happened.

"Absolutely, I was worried," he said. "At first I thought it was my ankle. I thought I just rolled my ankle or something. But the next play I knew I couldn't go. That's when I walked off to the sideline. But hopefully everything calms down and I'll be out there against Seattle."

Winfield not ready to return | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield says 85 percent chance he'll play
Posted by Chip Scoggins

Last update: November 16, 2009

Print this | E-mail this | Del.icio.us | Facebook | Digg Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield said during his weekly appearance with KFAN's Paul Allen that there's an 85 percent chance he'll play Sunday against Seattle.

Winfield has missed three-plus games because of a right foot injury suffered Oct. 18 against Baltimore. Winfield told Allen that he was getting more treatment at Winter Park this morning and then was going to do some running to see how it feels.

Winfield said on Friday that his foot felt good running straight ahead and side to side but that he still felt a little pain when he planted and cut.

Winfield says 85 percent chance he'll play | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Antoine Winfield

As a Buckeye: Four-year letterman (1995 to '98) became the first Ohio State player to win the Thorpe Award as the nation's top college defensive back. He was OSU's team MVP after a junior season in which he recorded 100 tackles and two interceptions. He was All-Big Ten and All-America in each of his final two seasons.

As a pro: Winfield was a first-round selection (No. 23 overall) of the Buffalo Bills in 1999. But it's difficult to think of Winfield with anyone else but the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he signed as a free agent in 2004. He has 21 interceptions and nearly 700 tackles in his 11-year career, but he has had his best seasons in Minnesota, including a Pro Bowl campaign in 2008. Winfield is a fan favorite for his physical style that helped spark the Vikings' defensive resurgence.

The skinny: Who knew Antoine Winfield was at the forefront of the NFL's push toward incentive-based contracts? The five-year extension he signed with the Vikings over the summer includes language that would see the 32-year-old Winfield's salary cut in half were he demoted from the starting lineup in 2011 or beyond. And yet his base pay could leap up again if he reclaims his job.

GameDay+

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield is doubtful, but reports progress
By CHIP SCOGGINS and JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: November 20, 2009

Antoine Winfield said he made significant progress in practice this week, but the Vikings cornerback was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Seattle because of a right foot injury.

Winfield said his foot felt good after Friday's workout. In particular, Winfield said he experienced no pain when planting and making a cut, something that gave him problems last week.

Winfield has missed three-plus games after injuring his foot Oct. 18 against Baltimore.

"I'll get out there and do some work Sunday morning and see how it feels [before the game]," Winfield said. "If it's good, I'll be out there. Game-time decision."

Winfield is doubtful, but reports progress | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Childress said that cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) wanted to play Sunday but the decision was made to sit him for the fourth game in a row. "He's close," to returning, Childress said. "I'll just say that."

Favre gets chance to rest arm in big win | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Minnesota Vikings' Antoine Winfield plans to play Sunday against Chicago Bears
By Sean Jensen and Rick Alonzo
[email protected] [email protected]
Updated: 11/25/2009

Cornerback Antoine Winfield celebrates after intercepting a pass at the MN 23 in the second quarter, as the Vikings defeat the Green Bay Packers 30-23 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on October 5, 2009 . (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi, file)

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield is on his way back.

"It feels 100 times better. I have no issues," Winfield said today. "I'm looking forward to getting out there on Sunday."

Winfield has not played since he fractured his right foot in the second quarter of the Oct. 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens. He was optimistic he could return to the lineup last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. He was limited in practice today, though.

"I'm glad I didn't (play)," Winfield said. "The guys got out there played well.

"Me being a competitor, I want to get out there and play."

Winfield said he doesn't plan to ease his way back into the lineup Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

"I plan on playing the whole game," he said. "Ain't no spot duty."

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_13866703

 

[Buckskin86]

Sunday to be decision day for Winfield
By CHIP SCOGGINS and JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune staff writers
December 5, 2009

Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

Antoine Winfield, who is listed as questionable for Sunday, said his availability will be a game-time decision. The Pro Bowl cornerback has missed five consecutive games since suffering a right foot injury Oct. 18 against Baltimore.

Winfield had hoped to return against the Chicago Bears last week, but he twisted his foot in practice Friday and could not play. Winfield was limited all week in practice.

"Every week my goal at the beginning is to somehow work it to where I can go out there and play 100 miles per hour without a setback," he said. "Unfortunately I had one last week."

Winfield faces a tall order if he does play with Arizona's Pro Bowl receiving tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Those two are difficult matchups under normal circumstances and worse for someone who hasn't played in six weeks.

Winfield, however, said he's not concerned about any rust.

"I don't think it will be tough," he said. "My technique is good. My wind is good. I've been running every day. [But] I might tap my head every now and then and take a break."

Sunday to be decision day for Winfield | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Minnesota Vikings: Antoine Winfield says setback in practice slowed return
By Rick Alonzo
[email protected]
Updated: 12/07/2009

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said today that he suffered a setback in his recovery from a fractured right foot, which has sidelined him since Oct. 18.

Winfield told KFAN-AM that he had a setback in practice, apparently on Nov. 27.

"I twisted it a little bit in practice," Winfield said. "But it feels pretty good. Hopefully, it will be good enough for me to go on Sunday (against Cincinnati)."

Winfield said it was difficult for him to miss the Arizona game.

"I wanted to play real bad yesterday, a prime-time game playing against a great team with a great offense," he said. "But the thing is, I do want to come back as close to 100 percent as possible."

Winfield said he doesn't want to re-injure the foot in a game and then miss the playoffs.

He worked out on the field hours before kickoff at Arizona and wasn't sure whether he would play. But at that point, he had already been placed on the inactive list, he said.

Minnesota Vikings: Antoine Winfield says setback in practice slowed return - TwinCities.com