National Football League

Without Rudolph, Vikings must fill tight-end void with committee

Published Sep. 25, 2014 6:30 p.m. ET

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- A slimmed-down Kyle Rudolph returned to the Minnesota Vikings this year motivated about the possibilities of being united with new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

The 6-foot-6 target with the big mitts to match had just signed a five-year contract extension making him one of the league's highest-paid tight ends, providing insight into the team's feelings on Rudolph and perhaps foreshadowing the responsibilities he would assume in Turner's offense.

Minnesota is now trying to replace Rudolph in the short term with a group of tight ends that have 27 career NFL catches combined.

"You have to have a mentality of we've got to find a guy to replace him," Turner said. "We're in that process and you go the tight end position, the running back position. We've obviously taken some hits and we're working hard to fill those voids."

Already missing top running back Adrian Peterson, Rudolph's sports hernia surgery on Tuesday will keep him out of the lineup for several weeks. The Vikings haven't decided whether to place him on injured reserve with the designation to return. The IR designation would mean Rudolph has to sit out eight weeks. Minnesota is hopeful he will return earlier.

Left in the wake is a group of unproven, unheralded tight ends.

The top backup, Rhett Ellison, is known more for his blocking prowess. Former Minnesota Gopher MarQueis Gray is still making the transition to tight end after spending most of his time in college as a quarterback. Chase Ford was elevated from the practice squad and has played in nine NFL games.

"We're going to miss Kyle, obviously," coach Mike Zimmer said. "So we got to make sure that we do a good job in the passing game. These other guys that come up, we need to make sure we're staying on the blocks. But we'll see."

Ellison can handle the blocking part. He was somewhat of a surprise pick when he was drafted in the fourth round in 2012. Ellison has lived up to the pick as a complement to Rudolph. His blocking has opened many big holes, such as Peterson's 78-yard touchdown run on the first offensive play of last season.

In 30 career games, though, Ellison has just 14 catches for 172 yards. He has two catches for 46 yards this season, while Rudolph is third on the team with 10 catches for 96 yards. Going back to his time at Southern Cal, Ellison had 43 catches for 372 yards and five touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons.

"I think Rhett can do a number of things," Zimmer said. "Rhett, he's a tough guy. He does a good job in the running game. He does a good job in the passing game on the routes we ask him to run."

Surprisingly, the most accomplished receiver of the group is Gray. He had 60 catches for 766 yards and six touchdowns in four years with the University of Minnesota.

His sophomore year, spent mainly as a receiver, Gray had 42 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns.

"Catching's never been very hard to me," Gray said. "It's always been something that's very easy. Of course, I have big hands, too, and got strong hands, being a quarterback touching the ball every play. So I'm pretty sure that helped out a lot."

His coaches have noticed.

Gray worked with Turner last year in Cleveland as he adjusted to being more of an inline tight end. He caught his only two NFL passes last season.

"That's his strength, and we're working to help him improve as a receiver and the way he runs routes and the things he does," Turner said. "He has outstanding hands and that's his strength."

Gray ended up with his most extensive action of the season on Sunday, playing 11 snaps. Rudolph went out on the first play of Minnesota's final drive. Despite his experience with Turner, Gray said the playbook has changed a bit with the Vikings this year and he has worked to become more familiar with Turner's plans for Minnesota's offense.

"I think he's becoming more comfortable with playing the position," Turner said. "Obviously the biggest transition for any guy who goes from quarterback to playing a position on offense or defense is the physical part of the play, the blocking. Obviously the physical part of the play is so much different than playing quarterback."

Gray is trying to fill the role and adapt to all aspects of being a tight end.

"I don't just want to be known as a pass-catching tight end," Gray said. "If I want to stay a tight end, I just want to be able to be a complete tight end and that includes blocking. So that's one of my main focuses now."

Ford had the chance to fill Rudolph's spot last season. Rudolph, a Pro Bowl MVP after the 2012 season, was limited to eight games last season because of a broken foot. Ford came in to play the final nine games and had 11 catches for 133 yards. In the season's final game, he caught five passes on seven targets for 43 yards.

"I'm not as familiar with Chase as you are probably because he hasn't had a lot of practice time," Turner said. "But he has the potential to help us in the passing game."

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