Training Camp Updates: Geoff Schwartz Absent

The Minnesota Vikings have sent offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz back to Minneapolis for tests on an abdominal strain. According to @VikignsNow, Shwartz’s agent says the strain examination is not related to the hip injury that cost him 2011 season.

Schwartz, 26, played in 32 games with the Carolina Panthers during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, but sat out the full 2011 campaign after the hip surgery. Shwartz signed a one-year deal with the Vikigns in March that included $150,000 in bonuses.

After the morning walkthrough coach Frazier said Schwartz, “Just couldn’t make any of the adjustments he needed to make when he turned in that direction.” He continued, “Obviously, for an offensive lineman, we want him to be able to turn in either direction with ease. He’s having trouble doing that, and so we wanted to go back and get it checked out and find out what’s going on.”

With the injury of Schwartz, the Vikings are left with 12 healthy offensive lineman. Both DeMarcus Love (shoulder) and Pat Brown (Grade 1 MCL sprain) will miss at least a couple days of practice – How long Schwartz will miss has not yet been determined.

Frazier did not back away from the idea of bringing in more depth saying, “we’re going to bring in some guys to work out and take a look, because you don’t want to get down to 11 or 10.”

According to Tom Pelissero the Vikings will be working out former Eastern Michigan OL Bridger Buche, who was with the Steelers this summer.