Last year's No. 1 pick missed entire 2006 season with injury

By Chad Courrier

MANKATO — Chad Greenway was excited about his chance to play in an NFL game last week, but he’s more excited that he gets to play in another.

“It felt natural, I felt like a football player again,” Greenway said. “The best part is that I get to come back out here and do it again this week.”

Greenway, the Vikings’ first-round draft choice in 2006, injured his knee early in the first preseason game covering a kickoff. He had surgery and was placed on injured reserve.

Last week, in the preseason opener against St. Louis, Greenway was back on the Metrodome turf, trying not to think about how his rookie season ended so abruptly.

“I focused on what I needed to do to play well,” Greenway said. “I want to show that I belong as a starter on this football team.”

Greenway was on the field for 11 plays and made one tackle.

“I really saw him attack a screen out on the flat,” coach Brad Childress said. “It’s just a matter of keeping his pads down and keeping him playing with leverage. He is a fast, fast guy.”

Offense struggles

During one period of full-teams drills Tuesday morning, the defense dominated the offense, which made several mistakes. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe dropped a couple of passes, and receiver Todd Lowber missed one.

The protection wasn’t very good as Ray Edwards made a pair of sacks and Pat Williams had one. Safety Tank Williams made an interception, and cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Ronyell Whitaker each nearly had one.

“It’s important that the guys continue to focus here the last couple of days (of camp),” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “We don’t want any senior-itis when they are getting out of here.”

Glenn retires

Linebacker Jason Glenn, plagued by recurring knee problems, retired on Tuesday. Childress said that Glenn made an emotional speech in front of the team Monday night before leaving camp. He injured his left knee early at camp. “He said his body couldn’t take it anymore,” said Childress,

Glenn, a seven-year veteran, joined the Vikings last season, played in seven games last season on special teams before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He spent four years with the New York Jets and one with Miami.

Childress said that it’s possible that Glenn could rejoin the team during the season if there were another injury to a linebacker and Glenn was healthy.

The Vikings added two linebackers to the roster Tuesday, signing George Hall and Cameron Siskowic. Hall, who played at Purdue, was with the Vikings for six weeks during the offseason. Siskowic was waived last week by Cincinnati.

Running back Wendell Mathis (back) was waived.

Notes

Kicker Ryan Longwell was 6 of 7 on field goals during a special-teams drill. The one he missed came on a bad hold by Brooks Bollinger, who is the backup holder to Chris Kluwe. ... Safety Greg Blue and running back Chester Taylor had a brief skirmish during a goal-line drill. ... Cornerback Chad Johnson has missed the last two days of practice to be with his mother, who is having surgery in Louisiana. Childress expects Johnson to return today or Thursday. ... ... On one play, Childress lined up as the running back, took a hand off from Tarvaris Jackson and placed the ball down after a couple of yards, setting up a “last-minute” field goal attempt. ... Cortez Hankton made the best catch of the morning practice, jumping high to snag a pass from Bollinger. The defensive highlight was provided by cornerback Marcus McCauley. A high pass in the corner of the end zone was intended for Sidney Rice, but McCauley timed his leap and deflected the ball to safety Patrick Body.