Joe Berger was doing more than keeping the center spot warm for injured starter John Sullivan when he received word a month ago that Sullivan could not make his comeback this season, and that the Vikings would continue to rely on him to man perhaps the most physically and mentally demanding position on the offensive line.
“Everybody was hopeful [Sullivan would return] throughout the whole process and it just came down to the final MRI that showed [he couldn’t],” Berger said. “You never want to see guys get hurt, but unfortunately that’s part of the game.