According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, cornerback Antoine Winfield said his right foot is doing "great" and no longer causes him pain when he runs.
Winfield missed six games after breaking his foot in October. He visited a foot specialist in North Carolina this offseason and said he turned a corner physically about two months ago.
"I went and had an injection that stopped the inflammation and knocked everything out," he said. "I’ve been running without any pain. I can’t wait. I missed out last year. I don’t feel like I even played last year."
Winfield has been working out with a few other NFL players at a facility in Houston this offseason.
"The main thing was for me to rest it, make sure that I came back 100 percent," he said. "I didn't want to rush anything, go too hard and try to do all the OTAs and stuff. But I feel great right now. I'm excited. I can't wait."
Winfield turns 33 this month, but even if he plays at a level below his prime his return to full strength will help a strong Minnesota defense. The Vikings fortified the cornerback position in the offseason by signing Lito Sheppard and drafting Virginia's Chris Cook, but until proven otherwise, Winfield is still a superior starter. Minnesota's defense is fourth in our rankings. In the IDP world, Winfield has been a potent performer in the past, and if he returns to full strength, he could be a short-term bargain as his stock won't be as high as it was in the past.