Winderlich, who has endured a wretched two years with injury, was on track to face the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood on Friday night before the tightness struck last week.
The 28-year-old had joined in full training, and appears a strong chance to play his first game of the year against the Tigers in Wangaratta on March 2.
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"Because of his history we sort of held him off a bit," Essendon general manager of football Danny Corcoran told AFL.com.au.
"We've got a week off this week [so] they'll probably nurse him and give him every chance the week after I think."
He could be joined by key forward Scott Gumbleton, another Bomber who has suffered a luckless run with injury.
A minor hamstring strain at the start of December kept the 24-year-old out of training for several weeks. He returned at the start of January but pulled up sore in the hamstring and was put into a modified program.
"[It was] a bit longer than we thought with Scott, but he's back in full training now," Corcoran said.
"He should be right for the Richmond game, if they choose to play him."
Captain Jobe Watson (knee) is pushing to be available to face the Tigers, while midfielders Travis Colyer (ankle soreness) and Ben Howlett are up for selection.
The club will take a conservative approach with David Zaharakis as he comes back from a quad strain, and although he remains a chance to play against the Tigers, the 2011 best and fairest winner seems more likely to play against Greater Western Sydney in the third round of the pre-season competition.
With Essendon unlikely to play in the NAB Cup Grand Final, the club is able to give game-time to underdone players in a VFL intra-club match in the week preceding its round-one contest with Adelaide.
Zaharakis could be one player to take part in the game, as may Jake Melksham, who will probably return from a broken hand against the Giants.
"We've got a standalone VFL team now so we can certainly manage game time through that," Corcoran said.
Jason Winderlich is a forward in AFL Fantasy. He averaged 66 points in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy hub.
Follow AFL website reporter Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
