Udeze taking part in OTAs with Vikings
Published: May 21st, 2009 | Tags: Brad Childress, Kenechi Udeze, Minnesota Vikings

Kenechi Udeze is participating in Vikings OTAs after missing last season while undergoing a bone-marrow transplant for a form of leukemia. (Craig Lassig / Associated Press)
Not everything surrounding the Minnesota Vikings this offseason gets filed under Brett Favre Watch.
One of the selected veterans taking part in the four days of OTAs with the Vikings this week is Kenechi Udeze, who missed all of last season after undergoing a bone-marrow transplant due to an acute form of leukemia.
“It’s inspiring, I think, when you talk about a guy that 365 days ago was in the middle of intensive chemotherapy, fighting for his life,” coach Brad Childress said. “To put that in perspective, I mean that was even before he could be considered for a bone marrow transplant. I mean, to be A: Alive. I don’t profess to be an oncologist, but to be playing professional football, back on the field, it kind of defies description. We know of one other professional athlete that had that form of cancer, I think it was a tennis player that got back playing.
“I don’t know where (Udeze) will go. I know he doesn’t know either. But I know how hard he’s worked to get back to this spot. He’s always maintained that it was nothing more than a common cold. Great attitude.”
Childress said the Vikings have not limited Udeze during OTAs, and he doesn’t anticipate limiting the former first-round pick when contact drills get underway later during the offseason. Childress wouldn’t speculate on Udeze’s chances of making the final roster and returning to his old form, but indicated Udeze had “passed every check and balance to date.”