Vikings’ Harrison Phillips offering advice to players entering first postseason

Chris Tomasson, Pioneer Press
·4 min read
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While the Vikings were missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, Harrison Phillips was busy playing in some big postseason games.

The nose tackle signed with Minnesota as a free agent last March after appearing in the playoffs three straight years for Buffalo. The Bills lost their first game in 2019 but made it to the AFC Championship Game in 2020, and then lost last season in an epic overtime divisional playoff game at Kansas City.

The Vikings have plenty of players who will make their postseason debuts Sunday against the New York Giants, and Phillips has advice to offer.

“(I want) the young players to understand that this doesn’t come all the time,’’ Phillips said. “I’ve been with someone who played 10-plus seasons, 13 seasons, and maybe never went to the playoffs.”

Phillips said “everything kind of tenses up” in the playoffs, and players have to overcome that. He said he got emotional after each of his three playoff losses with Buffalo.

“Each one of those times, as I cried in my locker, it wasn’t just that my chance at this year’s Super Bowl was over, it’s that some of the best friends that I have in the whole world aren’t going to be there next year,” Phillips said about rosters turning over.

Nevertheless, Phillips does desperately want to win it all.

“I haven’t smelled the roses right now, enough. … If you don’t win the whole thing, what’s it really mean?” he said. “That’s the mindset we have every offseason (is), ‘What do I have to do this year to put myself in position to be on a defense that can win a Super Bowl?’ ”

Bradbury to practice

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is holding out hope that center Garrett Bradbury, who has missed the past five games with a back injury, could return against the Giants.

“The hope is that we can have him out there, more than likely limited, (in practice) on Wednesday and then we’ll see if we can build his work in throughout the week and see how he feels,” O’Connell said. “Ultimately, I just want Garrett to give it a go and see if he can turn the corner and possibly help us. But at the same time, I don’t want to put him in a position where he may not be the best or feel like he’s held back at all.”

If Bradbury can’t play, Chris Reed will start. Reed struggled Jan. 1 at Green Bay in relief of Austin Schlottmann, who is out for the season with an ankle injury, but was much better in Sunday’s 29-13 win at Chicago.

“Chris took a big step forward, having a week of practice to really get under his belt and that communication and dialogue with (quarterback) Kirk (Cousins),’’ O’Connell said.

Injury updates

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and cornerback Chandon Sullivan are both expected to play Sunday after suffering minor injuries against the Bears.

O’Connell said Cook, who took a cleat to his knee, will be a full participant in practice. Sullivan said he will “be ready to go” after he “banged my knee on the ground” and suffered a knee contusion.

O’Connell said tackle Blake Brandel, who missed the past four games with a torn MCL, will be designated to return this week from injured reserve. He could be activated to face the Giants.

Captain Metellus

With tackle Brian O’Neill, one of Minnesota’s eight captains, out for the season with an Achilles injury, O’Connell said safety Josh Metellus was elected by teammates to be a “ninth captain.”

“I checked in with Brian to make sure he thought it was a great idea, and he was fired up about it and even as he finished saying that, he said ‘It should be Josh Metellus,’ ’’ O’Connell said.

Metellus, a special-teams ace, already has a “C” stitched to his jersey.

“I’m blessed to get voted by these guys,’’ he said. “I can’t ask for anything more”

Briefly

Phillips, a teammate last season of Bills safety Damar Hamlin, was thrilled to learn the safety was released Monday from a Cincinnati hospital and returned to Buffalo. “A ton of answered prayers. So thankful,’’ Phillips said of Hamlin, who collapsed on the field at Cincinnati on Jan. 2. … O’Connell said tight end Irv Smith Jr. didn’t look rusty at Chicago after missing nine games due to an ankle injury. He said Smith, who caught three passes for 14 yards, will “play a role for us” in the postseason.

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