Mineiro has been without a club since leaving Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin at the end of last season.
“Mineiro is a player I need because I lost Michael Essien for six months and only Jon Mikel Obi is there for us,” said Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“He (Mineiro) won’t play this week but maybe after 10 days he will play,” Scolari added.
“He needs to play in the reserve team and needs some time but that is good for me because he gives me some options.
“We would miss Deco, it would not be good news. But it’s hard to say at the moment (how bad the injury is).”
Mineiro has also been linked with Arsenal and Birmingham in recent weeks.
“I say to fans of Chelsea, if they remember (Claude) Makelele, Mineiro is the same,” Scolari added on the veteran midfielder.
“He is good positionally, a very good marker. He is a man that works for the other players and he is also a good man outside of the pitch.”
