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After missing past three games, Vikings LB Anthony Barr insists ‘I’m playing’ vs. Packers

By Dane Mizutani

St. Paul Pioneer Press

EAGAN, Minn. — If Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr has his way, he will be back on the field for this week’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

He says he was “pretty close” to playing in Sunday’s 25-20 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, but he ultimately was kept out of his third consecutive game because of a lingering right hamstring injury.

“I’ll play this week,” Barr said Monday, Nov. 19. “I’m playing.”

Barr suffered the injury last month against the New York Jets, and while he returned to practice last week for the first time since getting hurt, he was listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis Thursday and Friday.

“I felt good,” Barr said. “I’ve just got to be smart. I’ve got to understand. I don’t want to be a liability out there if I don’t feel 100 percent.”

Barr wouldn’t elaborate on what went into the final decision for him to sit out the Bears game.

“I’m not going to get into all that,” he said. “It’s over and done with. We can move past that.”

The last time the Vikings and Packers played at U.S. Bank Stadium, 13 months ago, Barr knocked Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers out for several months with a tackle that broke his collar bone.

The Vikings (5-4-1) have lost two of the three games Barr has missed, and that slump has allowed the Bears (7-3) to take a firm grip on first place in the NFC North.

“Whether I was in there or not, I don’t know if that changes too much,” Barr said. “Even last night they played well. It’s just certain situations that kind of got away from them. I don’t know if they miss me or not. I miss them. I can say that.”

While sitting out has been frustrating for Barr, he has been erring on the side of caution, aware that this type of injury can linger if it isn’t handled properly.

“It can pop up if we don’t take care of it the right way,” Barr said. “We did a good job treating it and getting it right to where it needs to be, and I’m feeling confident heading into this week. It’s been frustrating. It is what it is. I’ve got to control what I can control. I’m feeling better and I’m looking forward to getting back out there this week.”

Barr has had to deal with another lingering issue this season: the status of his contract He becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and while some people think it might behoove him to be circumspect without any guaranteed money on the table, it doesn’t sound like he plans to use that as leverage moving forward.

“I play for the guys in this locker room,” Barr said. “I owe it to them to be on the field and play at a high level when I’m able to. I’m not worried about that contract stuff.”

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