Vikings coach Leslie Frazier spoke with the media after Thursday’s practice and put a new timeline on a decision regarding RB Adrian Peterson’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. After a week when both parties said it would be a game-time decision, Frazier revealed that the team could have an answer as early as Friday night.
“I think we’d know Saturday where we are,” said Frazier. “I don’t think we’d work him out pregame to see if he is ready to play. I think we will have a good idea when we get through with Friday where he stands.”
Frazier said that Peterson has done everything they have asked of him and appears to be functioning properly.
Frazier will watch the tape of Thursday’s practice, speak with Peterson on Friday and then put him through some game-plan specific drills to evaluate him and make a decision.
“We’re doing some things a little bit differently with him as we prepare for this game, so we will definitely notice a few things if he isn’t handling it very well,” said Frazier about Friday’s practice. “We will go back and watch this tape from practice and sit down and talk with him tomorrow to see where we are.”
Frazier said the team would make a decision either Friday night or Saturday morning on his star running back.
Jenkins to start at wide receiver: With WR Jerome Simpson out due to a league suspension, coach Leslie Frazier announced that WR Michael Jenkins would start in his place on Sunday. Jenkins held the spot last season before he tore cartilage in his knee and missed the final five games.
“That’s the way it looks as we speak today," Frazier said. "(Michael) will be opposite Percy (Harvin). But we are going to rotate all those receivers.”
Non-committal on third CB:Coach Leslie Frazier was asked who would be the third cornerback in nickel defense when CB Antoine Winfield moves to the nickel spot.
“Could be (Brandon) Burton,” Frazier said. “Could be Josh (Robinson). I don’t know if A.J. (Jefferson) will make it or not, we’ll see. Probably one of those two guys.”
Kluwe gets plenty of punting practice: P Chris Kluwe is also the holder on Viking field goals, but multiple duties are nothing new to him. He plays bass in a local rock band called “Tripping Icarus,” writes weekly stories for a Twin Cities newspaper, appears on radio to talk everything from video games to music (“anything except football,” he says), has written for several online sites and reads and tweets voraciously.
How does he find time to work on his punting?
“The good news is since I have been (punting) for almost 16 years, it doesn’t take a lot of work anymore,” he said. “It’s more perfecting little details, and that is what practice is for. It's not like I have to run a new scheme each week. Kick right, kick left, kick middle. That pretty much covers it.”
Injury report: Three players sat out of practice with injured ankles on Thursday: LB Marvin Mitchell, S Andrew Sendejo and WR Jarius Wright. Frazier said they are improving, but he would wait until Friday to make a determination about them being active for Sunday’s game, adding “it doesn’t look good for those guys."
CB Antoine Winfield missed practice due to a family matter. Frazier expects him back at practice on Friday.
For more Vikings news and notes, follow Joe Oberle on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLMIN.
