By Dave Campbell, Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have been down all year. Now they’re even more depleted.

The transaction list released by the Vikings resembled a virtual white flag, with four key players placed on injured reserve with five games to go in a second straight dismal season. Two safeties, a wide receiver and the long snapper are out, joining two of their best three cornerbacks.

These are positions that lacked depth at the beginning of the year. But as tantalizing as securing that second overall draft pick for 2012 can be — assuming the winless Indianapolis Colts are on their way to locking up No. 1 — the Vikings (2-9) haven’t abandoned their goal of finishing the season with success.

The ultracompetitive nature of professional sports makes it nearly impossible for coaches and players to think that way, for one. The Vikings will face legitimate playoff contenders in four of their last five games, another motivating factor. Plus, there’s the fear of rushing a rookie into action too soon.

“If you don’t feel like he’s quite ready and you put him out there just for the sake of saying, ‘We want to look at him in a game,’ and now the kid fails or he jeopardizes someone else’s health because he wasn’t ready,” coach Leslie Frazier said, “then that’s not the wisest thing to do.”

Frazier said this week’s moves were not made because of the team’s record. Only long snapper Cullen Loeffler and wide receiver Michael Jenkins would have a chance to return if the Vikings were still in the race for a playoff spot. So they’ve been left with no choice but to elevate the status of a handful of young players.

Strong safety Tyrell Johnson, who started three games this season to fill in while Jamarca Sanford and Husain Abdullah were injured, tore the hamstring tendon away from the bone in his right leg. Frazier said Johnson will need six months to recover. He was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.

Abdullah also is done for the year, due to lingering concussion symptoms. That means sixth-round draft pick Mistral Raymond will start at safety next to Sanford, with Jarrad Page now backing them up. Page was signed Tuesday after being let go recently by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins, who leads the team with three touchdown receptions and is second in catches and yards, has torn meniscus cartilage — Frazier didn’t say which knee — and will have surgery Thursday. His season-ending injury prompted the team to re-sign rookie Stephen Burton, a seventh-round draft pick who has been on and off the roster.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have been down all year. Now they’re even more depleted.

The transaction list released by the Vikings resembled a virtual white flag, with four key players placed on injured reserve with five games to go in a second straight dismal season. Two safeties, a wide receiver and the long snapper are out, joining two of their best three cornerbacks.

These are positions that lacked depth at the beginning of the year. But as tantalizing as securing that second overall draft pick for 2012 can be — assuming the winless Indianapolis Colts are on their way to locking up No. 1 — the Vikings (2-9) haven’t abandoned their goal of finishing the season with success.

The ultracompetitive nature of professional sports makes it nearly impossible for coaches and players to think that way, for one. The Vikings will face legitimate playoff contenders in four of their last five games, another motivating factor. Plus, there’s the fear of rushing a rookie into action too soon.

“If you don’t feel like he’s quite ready and you put him out there just for the sake of saying, ‘We want to look at him in a game,’ and now the kid fails or he jeopardizes someone else’s health because he wasn’t ready,” coach Leslie Frazier said, “then that’s not the wisest thing to do.”

Frazier said this week’s moves were not made because of the team’s record. Only long snapper Cullen Loeffler and wide receiver Michael Jenkins would have a chance to return if the Vikings were still in the race for a playoff spot. So they’ve been left with no choice but to elevate the status of a handful of young players.

Strong safety Tyrell Johnson, who started three games this season to fill in while Jamarca Sanford and Husain Abdullah were injured, tore the hamstring tendon away from the bone in his right leg. Frazier said Johnson will need six months to recover. He was scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.

Abdullah also is done for the year, due to lingering concussion symptoms. That means sixth-round draft pick Mistral Raymond will start at safety next to Sanford, with Jarrad Page now backing them up. Page was signed Tuesday after being let go recently by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jenkins, who leads the team with three touchdown receptions and is second in catches and yards, has torn meniscus cartilage — Frazier didn’t say which knee — and will have surgery Thursday. His season-ending injury prompted the team to re-sign rookie Stephen Burton, a seventh-round draft pick who has been on and off the roster.

Thus, Greg Camarillo and Devin Aromashodu are the primary outside receivers, with the team’s preference to use star returner/receiver Percy Harvin in the slot and limit his snaps to decrease his injury risk. That’s not an ideal situation for quarterback Christian Ponder’s development.

“The guys that we’re going to have playing on Sunday are guys he’s familiar with. They still have the ability to make plays for him,” Frazier said. “You still want to make sure that you’re doing the right thing by our team and by Christian as well.”

Leslie Frazier has one person on his coaching staff dedicated to watching replays and a couple of others who help out to make sure that he is notified when a call on the field has the potential to be overturned.
When that system broke down at a crucial moment during the Minnesota Vikings’ latest loss, it prompted Frazier to call for an examination of how the process works — or doesn’t — as the frustrations of this lost season continue to mount.
On third-and-goal in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to Atlanta, the Vikings gave the ball to Percy Harvin. He was stopped near the line of scrimmage by the Falcons defense, which also stuffed Toby Gerhart on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to keep the Vikings from carving into a 10-point deficit.
Replays appeared to show Harvin getting the ball across the goal line on his second effort. Frazier said Monday that the coaches who are charged with monitoring replays never brought the possibility of a challenge to his attention, a fact that appeared to give the usually reserved coach quite a bit of pause as the Vikings (2-9) prepare to enter the final portion of his first season on the job.
“We’ve got to review our communication based on that play alone,” Frazier said. “We’ve really got to review that going forward. Seeing the play and realizing that there was a chance to maybe get a challenge in there is something that we have to re-look at it how we’re communicating between myself and the guys upstairs.”
Harvin said after the game that he was lobbying for Frazier to challenge the call in what the receiver called a chaotic environment. The flag was never thrown and Gerhart went nowhere on the fourth-down play called by offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, preserving Atlanta’s lead and sending the Vikings to another loss.
Frazier did not identify by name the coaches responsible for helping with the replay reviews, and this one likely would have been a close call. Harvin’s initial forward progress was stopped on the play, but his knees never hit the turf and he lunged the ball across the goal line on his second effort.
“When our season is where it is and the way our season has gone, anytime you’re in a game like that, a close game, and we’ve been in a lot of close games this year, one play sometimes or one sequence can turn the game,” Frazier said. “We’ve seen that in our case a number of times when we don’t execute correctly from a coaching standpoint, just like our players. It will cost you. We’ve got to continue to work as a team and as a staff and get those situations correct.”
The latest coaching difficulties turned up the heat on Frazier and his staff as an impatient fan base looks for signs of improvement in what is shaping up as one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
“We’re certainly at a frustration level that is pretty out of sight right now,” linebacker Chad Greenway said. “All you can do at this point at 2-9 is come in each week and try to improve, play better within the scheme and just make the plays that are there.”
Defensive coordinator Fred Pagac is leading a unit that is ranked 19th in the league and has struggled to force turnovers and deliver impact plays. Musgrave has been up and down with the 30th-ranked offense, helping rookie quarterback Christian Ponder get acclimated to the NFL, but also calling some head-scratching plays that have stunted drives in key situations.
Frazier defended the run call on Sunday, saying it was the execution that was lacking.
“It’s an ongoing process as you evaluate what you’re doing offensively, defensively, special teams-wise based on the personnel that you have,” Frazier said. “You have to as a coach try to figure out a way to adjust to your personnel.”
The cold, hard reality is sinking in. This season is over and the focus has turned to the future, and players and coaches alike know that jobs are on the line going forward, starting with Sunday’s home game against Denver.
“In a lot of cases you’re playing for your job for next year and what you can bring to the team,” Greenway said. “In a lot of cases, if you’re a young guy and this is your opportunity, this is your chance to step up and shine and make some plays to give yourself a position on this team next year.”
Notes: The Vikings signed TE Mickey Shuler to the practice squad. Shuler was drafted a seventh-round draft choice in 2010 who was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins that year. Shuler played in six games last year for the Dolphins but has not played in a game this season.

Minnesota QB Christian Ponder (AP file photo)

For the record: Vikings 2-9, last place NFC North; Broncos 6-5, second place AFC West.

Last game: The Vikings lost their third consecutive game, 24-14 at Atlanta.

Who’s hot: Defensive end Jared Allen is having yet another Pro Bowl season and is second in the league with 13.5 sacks, just a half sack behind leader DeMarcus Ware. Allen also has three forced fumbles. Sunday against Atlanta, he displayed another talent when he filled in for Minnesota’s injured long snapper.

Who’s not: Minnesota’s offensive line has struggled to protect rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, allowing 18 sacks in the five games since Ponder replaced Donovan McNabb as the starting quarterback. Ponder has been sacked at least three times in each of the past four games.

Key stat: The Vikings are struggling in the passing game, both offensively and defensively. Minnesota is throwing for only 179 yards per game, ranked No. 30 in the league, while allowing 258.2 passing yards per game, only one spot better at No. 29.

FYI: Star running back Adrian Peterson missed Sunday’s game at Atlanta, and his status for this week’s game against Denver will be up in the air all week. His replacement, Toby Gerhart, rushed for 44 yards against the Falcons.

Coachspeak: “The fact that our guys are still battling, still giving us a chance in the fourth quarter — that is what is encouraging. I think our coaches, our players, are going to continue to fight; we’ve got the resolve to do so. We’ve just got to execute and play better.”

— Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier on Monday, a day after the Vikings’ loss to Atlanta. The Vikings scored 14 points in the second half.

Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been downgraded to out for Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced Saturday.

Peterson suffered a high ankle sprain during a Week 11 loss to the Oakland Raiders and was carted off the sideline during the second quarter of the game. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Monday that Peterson had suffered some ligament damage and that Friday would be an important day in the team’s evaluation of Peterson’s Week 12 status.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that Peterson was out of his walking boot but did not participate in Friday’s practice.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was not optimistic that Peterson would be able to go, calling the running back “very, very doubtful.”

Peterson is sixth in the NFL in rushing with 872 yards. He’s tied with Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy with a league-leading 12 touchdowns.

Toby Gerhart, the 2009 Heisman Trophy runner-up in his senior season at Stanford, will start in Peterson’s absence. Frazier said Lorenzo Booker could also see some time at running back, and receiver Percy Harvin will continue to receive limited carries.

Safety Husain Abdullah (concussion) and right guard Anthony Herrera (left knee) have been declared out for Sunday’s game.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph missed practice all week with a quadriceps contusion and is listed as doubtful.

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) and receiver Percy Harvin (ribs) are listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is doubtful for Sunday’s game at Atlanta because of a high ankle sprain.

Peterson hasn’t practised all week after hurting his left ankle last week against Oakland. He was carted off the sideline Sunday and X-rays were negative. An MRI on Monday showed a Grade-1 high ankle sprain, the least severe of the three categories, and he had been in a walking boot for three days this week.

“With the limited amount of things he was able to do today, very, very doubtful he would make it, though,” Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said.

Peterson is sixth in the NFL in rushing with 872 yards. He’s tied with Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy with a league-leading 12 touchdowns.

Peterson was out of his walking boot on Thursday and did some pool work. He tested the ankle again Friday but couldn’t practice. He walked out to watch individual group drills at the Vikings’ facilities before walking off the field with head trainer Eric Sugarman.

“The trouble he had was when he got up on his toes to plant or make a cut, that’s where he had trouble,” Frazier said. “So, that being the case it’s doubtful he’ll be able to get to the point where by Sunday we felt like he would be able to get out there. But we’ll see. The fact that he can put pressure on that ankle, that’s a positive sign.

“He’s made progress, but being able to cut, as we all know, is a major part of what he does.”

At 2-8, Minnesota has little incentive to rush its franchise back to return. Peterson signed a US$100 million, seven-year contract extension during the pre-season.

Toby Gerhart, the 2009 Heisman Trophy runner-up in his senior season at Stanford, would start in Peterson’s absence. Frazier said Lorenzo Booker could also see some time at running back and receiver Percy Harvin will continue to receive limited carries.

Safety Husain Abdullah (concussion) and right guard Anthony Herrera (left knee) have been declared out for Sunday’s game.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph missed practice all week with a quadriceps contusion and is listed as doubtful.

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) and receiver Percy Harvin (ribs) are listed as questionable after practising on a limited basis Friday.

On this beautiful (and rather cold) Thanksgiving Thursday, it’s a wonderful time for reflection on all of things in this world worth being thankful for. For the Minnesota Vikings, there’s still plenty to be thankful for despite their 2-8 start to the 2011 NFL regular season. It may be hard to believe, but it’s true nonetheless.

So, without further ado, here’s my list of the five things that the Vikings should be thankful for on Turkey Day 2011.

1. Adrian Peterson

Does this one really need some sort of explanation? The Vikings have arguably the best running back in the NFL. Despite a high-ankle sprain, the human wrecking ball is still fired up to play this weekend and hasn’t called it quits despite a 2-8 record. Although speculation continues to arise about the possibility of Peterson getting fed up with this rather unsuccessful Vikings team, I don’t think Purple Jesus will be leaving anytime soon.

2. Christian Ponder(notes) has shown promise for the future

After several years of bringing in one over-the-hill quarterback after another, the Vikings finally appear to have found their quarterback of the future in their rookie first-round pick. It’s obvious that Ponder has been suffering from growing pains, but his poise, moxie and play-making abilities have led me to believe that there’s hope. Let’s just hope that his confidence and short memory aren’t giving Vikings fans everywhere false optimism.

3. No more Bernard Berrian(notes)

Why they held on to the inadequate wide receiver for so long is beyond me. Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier continued to give him one undeserved chance after another no matter how many catchable balls he dropped. Even if three rookies (Stephen Burton(notes), Emmanuel Arceneaux(notes), Kerry Taylor(notes)) were starting at wide receiver by season’s end, the Vikings would be better off than having Berrian in the lineup.

4. A high draft pick next April

If the 2012 NFL Draft were to take place tomorrow, the Vikings would be the proud owners of a Top 5 pick. With the plethora of talent that this upcoming draft boasts, it’s almost a guarantee that the Vikings will have a new top-tier talent to flaunt when the 2012 NFL season finally rolls around. Whether it’s an offensive tackle, wide receiver or cornerback, one thing is for sure: those positions can only get better at this point.

5. A new stadium in Minnesota isn’t completely out of the question

Roadblock after roadblock, the Vikings continue to explore every possible option that will land them a new stadium deal. From Arden Hills to Minneapolis, the Vikings are looking far and wide in hopes of avoiding a move to the West Coast. The fact that time is running out isn’t promising, but I’ve got my fingers crossed and so should you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

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Once again, I am dealing with the conflicting emotions of unconditional love for the Minnesota Vikings and the embarrassment that often accompanies it. The Vikings lost another game, bringing their record to 2-8 for the first time since 1962.

The loss to Oakland follows an equally embarrassing loss to the Green Bay Packers. It would be one thing if these games were fought hard and lost respectably. Instead, some unknown force has sucked all the ambition and drive out of the Minnesota Vikings. Their playing is disorganized at best, rife with false starts and other mistakes that should not even be part of the equation in the NFL.

Although there were plenty of cringe-worthy moments during the game, the most embarrassing plays occurred during the second quarter. The downward spiral began when Christian Poner threw his first interception of the game and continued through multiple penalties. The Oakland Raiders managed to sneak a touchdown into the last two minutes of the second quarter. Then, in the most embarrassing field goal attempt since Gary Anderson missed in 1999, Chris Kluwe(notes) fumbled, making it impossible for Ryan Longwell(notes) to tie up the game at 10-10. Following this Vikings doozy, the Raiders celebrated a second touchdown.

Poor playing aside, I knew the game was over the instant Adrian Peterson sprained his ankle. Nothing against Toby Gerhardt, but it just isn’t possible to replace Peterson, especially for a team on which the entire strategy is built around the running back. According to Leslie Frazier, Peterson only has a Grade 1 ankle sprain, so chances are decent that he’ll be returning for the next game in Atlanta. That is possibly the only good news I’ve heard about the Minnesota Vikings in the last several weeks.

Things aren’t looking much better for next week. The Minnesota Vikings head to Atlanta, potentially without Adrian Peterson. The Atlanta Falcons are looking pretty good this year, with a 6-4 record and a recent victory over the Tennessee Titans. Vikings fans may have to put up with yet another week of bitter disappointment.

Born and raised in Minnesota, S. Gustafson has remained faithful to the Vikings through their many ups and downs.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. — Going into tonight’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, the feeling is becoming familiar for the Green Bay Packers: Another week, another win, another uneasy feeling about the state of the defense.

The reigning Super Bowl champions are the NFL’s only undefeated team at 8-0 and have won a franchise-record 14 straight games going back to last season, including playoffs. It has been so long since the Packers actually lost a game that defensive players now seem to be stewing about substandard performances in victories the same way they might after a loss.

That certainly was the case after the Packers’ Oct. 23 victory at Minnesota, where Green Bay allowed rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to play with poise in his first career start and gave up 175 yards to Adrian Peterson.

“Last time, we didn’t feel like we played as good as we could have played in Minnesota,” defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said. “We feel like we could have put it away, and then we kind of let them back in the game. ‘AP’ rushed for 175 yards. We felt sick after we even won that game. So this is a good opportunity for us to right our wrongs.”   

Going into the second game between the two division rivals in less than a month, the Packers are giving up 299.6 yards passing per game this season, second-most in the NFL behind New England. They nearly coughed up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win at San Diego.

The Packers remain dominant on offense behind Aaron Rodgers. And while their defense does lead the NFL with 16 interceptions and has been good enough to win all eight games so far, the porous nature of their pass defense means they can’t take anybody for granted.

“If you look at it, it’s kind of good,” Pickett said. “We’re feeling sick and we’re 8-0. We definitely know we’ve got a lot of room to grow, and we know we’re going to get there. Especially as a defensive unit, we have segments of great games, but we have yet to put a complete game, the way we want to play, out there. We know it’s coming, and we’re going to just keep fighting til we get there.”

Ponder helped Minnesota beat Carolina two weeks ago for his first career win — the Vikings had a bye last week — and he sees no reason why the Vikings can’t make it a game Monday night.

“That’s kind of what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. Obviously my two mistakes I had last game, you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given. I think as the offense if we do things right we can be pretty good.”

And Ponder says he can play better than he did in his first career start.

“The biggest thing is we kept it close, which should give us the confidence that we can hang in with those guys,” Ponder said. “Completion percent around 40 percent’s not good. Two turnovers isn’t good. So, there’s a lot to fix there. But still, with a 40 percent completion rating with two interceptions and we still had the ability to win the game, I think that’s a good sign.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has no concerns about Ponder’s poise going into a prime-time road game.

“To come out there in your first start against the defending Super Bowl champions and play as well as he played and to make some of the plays that he made in the fourth quarter, just gives you the idea that he can handle adverse situations, he can handle being on the road and playing well like he did against Carolina,” Frazier said. “I don’t foresee him being in a situation on Monday Night where you go, `Oh, this is not a good situation for Christian.’ I just don’t foresee that.”

The Packers still will be most worried about stopping Peterson, who says the Vikings are comfortable with Ponder at quarterback.

“I really think the sky’s the limit for him with what he has shown in the past two weeks before the bye,” Peterson said. “I feel like we can do some really good things. We just can’t keep doing things that hurt us. Offensively, defensively, make sure we’re eliminating some penalties and make sure we take advantage of the opportunities that present (themselves).”

Peterson is plenty impressed with Rodgers, who threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns with an 80 percent completion rate on Oct. 23.

“I feel like he’s the best quarterback in the league,” Peterson said. “I’ve always like Rodgers, even before he blew up. I could see the potential in him, just how he played, the attitude he played with. His passion shows. So it’s not really surprising to me.”   

The Vikings’ defense will welcome back cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four games because of a neck injury. Defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL with 12 1/2 sacks and Rodgers was sacked four times by San Diego, some of which were the result of good downfield coverage.

Still, stopping Rodgers will be a tough test for the Vikings. Linebacker E.J. Henderson made it sound like he’d rather be facing Brett Favre.

“He’s pretty hot right now,” Henderson said of Rodgers. “Even Brett in his (heyday) when we used to play the Packers he was still good for a couple three interceptions here and there. I definitely think he’s playing at a high level, we all know that, we know what a challenge it’s going to be for us Monday to come out and slow him down but we’re looking forward to it.”

I seriously think the football gods set up this weekend to torture Minnesotans. As if a Gophers-Badgers game isn’t bad enough, the Minnesota Vikings have yet another face off against the Green Bay Packers. And this time, the Vikes won’t have the home field advantage.

The Packers are currently at 8-0, and many enthusiastic fans are predicting a 16-0 season and another Super Bowl victory. This week, the Vikings’ big job is to wipe that smug smile off the Packer Backers’ faces.

There are a few signs of hope for Sunday’s game. First, there’s Christian Ponder(notes). I really wish Leslie Frazier would have gotten Ponder in the game several weeks ago, because the Vikings might have had more than two wins by now. My Packer-loving friends like to point to the fact that Christian Ponder is nowhere near Aaron Rodgers(notes) in playing ability. Still, watching a Vikings game led by Ponder is far less embarrassing than watching one with Donovan McNabb(notes) as starting quarterback.

Another promising development: better use of running back Adrian Peterson. Everybody knows Peterson can rush, but he also makes a great receiver. Peterson’s abilities were not fully utilized during the first few weeks of the football season. He complained about this in a recent interview: ” Sometimes I don’t get the ball and I’m like grrr I was wide open.” But when the Minnesota Vikings played the Carolina Panthers, Peterson had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers when they hosted at the Metrodome three weeks ago, but they did not lose by much. In fact, for a brief period, they were actually leading the Packers. If they can pull it together this week, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t hand the Pack their first loss of the season. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe says it best: “[The Green Bay Packers] need a loss, don’t they? They need one. We’re going to see what we can do about that.”

Born and raised in Minnesota, S. Gustafson has remained faithful to the Vikings through their many ups and downs.

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With a tremendous challenge looming only a couple days away, the Minnesota Vikings need all hands on deck. Unfortunately, the bye week wasn’t enough for starting right guard Anthony Herrera, who won’t be playing when they head to Lambeau Field to take on the undefeated Green Bay Packers on Monday night.

“Anthony was the guy we were hoping to get something out of, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen,” Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said. “We going to list him as out and will revisit it next week and see where he is.”

Herrera, whose NFL career has been plagued by injuries as of late, will miss the game due to a knee injury that he suffered during the Vikings’ previous meeting with the Packers. Although it’s not as severe as the ACL injury last year that forced him to undergo reconstructive surgery, it’s still a huge concern for a player with a history of knee problems.

“He’s still making progress, but not to the point where we could say, ‘OK, let’s go out and try to do something,’” Frazier said. “They haven’t cleared him to go out and try to participate even in practice, so we just have to wait.”

Taking his place will be Joe Berger, who will be getting his second straight start at the right guard spot. Brought in as a backup center after the team released Jon Cooper, Berger has played adequately in place of both Herrera and starting center John Sullivan.

Although it’s unclear when Herrera will return, the Vikings are optimistic that they will have their starting guard back sooner rather than later. Frazier told the media on Thursday that he was “day-to-day”, so his return to the lineup shouldn’t be too far off.

Once he does recover from the knee injury, Berger will be forced to take a backseat to the Vikings’ veteran guard. According to Frazier, Herrera will be given back his starting spot “if he’s 100 percent, if he gets back physically to where he was before the injury.” How long that will take, however, has yet to be seen.

Until Herrera can make a full recovery, the Vikings will have to make the most out of what they have available. Although he hasn’t been terrific, Berger hasn’t created a tear in the offensive line either. Herrera’s absence could also create an opportunity for the Vikings to get a look at rookie offensive lineman Brandon Fusco, who is raw but possesses a plethora of potential.

Here’s to hoping that Herrera makes a speedy recovery while Berger does his best to keep rookie quarterback Christian Ponder on his feet and out of the dirt.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Read More: Anthony Herrera (G – MIN), Joe Berger (C – MIN), Phil Loadholt (OT – MIN), Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers

The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for one of their biggest games of the season as they face the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. The one thing they have going for them is an advantage on the injury report, though Friday’s version wasn’t quite as cheery as Thursday’s looked.

Phil Loadholt was added, but only due to illness — and apparently not a very serious one as he was a full participant — while offensive guard Anthony Herrera was definitely ruled out for the Packers game. Head coach Leslie Frazier explained why during Friday’s media availability.

“He’s still making progress, but not to the point where we could say, ‘OK, let’s go out and try to do something,’” coach Leslie Frazier said. “They haven’t cleared him to go out and try to participate even in practice, so we just have to wait.”

Joe Berger will start in his place.

The Vikings entire injury report is included below.

Three weeks ago, Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder(notes) was baptized by fire when he got his first NFL start against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

The Packers, who were then and still are undefeated, came at him with everything they had and gave him a sample of what elite NFL football tastes like. Despite forcing him into throwing two interceptions (and potentially more that were dropped by Packers defenders), Ponder managed to keep the Vikings in the game. Although they ended up falling short by a score of 27-33, it was an impressive NFL debut by a quarterback that many thought the Vikings overdrafted at No. 12 overall.

His numbers might not have been Newton-esque, but his poise and unrelenting drive to give his team every possible opportunity to win the game were remarkable for a rookie. Ponder took responsibility for his mistakes, but didn’t dwell on them and went out with confidence on the next drive as if the previous one never happened. He showed an unwillingness to lay down when the Vikings fell behind by a couple touchdowns and didn’t stop until the final whistle blew.

“He’s been so unflappable in the two starts he’s had that I have a feeling whatever we tell him, he’s still going to be able to handle the situation,” Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said.

Now, with a 1-1 record as an NFL starter under his belt, Ponder will face off against the Packers again after a bye week that should have the Vikings well rested and ready to play. Although the Green Bay secondary will again pose a daunting challenge to the young gunslinger, he’s ready to prove that he’s matured since their previous meeting.

“That’s what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. My two mistakes last game – you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given.”

Although there’s nothing wrong with a little confident, too much can be a bad thing, especially for a rookie NFL quarterback. A big part of Ponder’s struggles last game stemmed from his overconfidence and lack of discipline when making throws into coverage. If he can cut down on this bad decisions and pick and choose his targets with more care, the Vikings could stand a chance at winning Monday’s game.

If Ponder can start his career as the Vikings starter with a 2-1 record, including a win against the Green Bay Packers, the team might have discovered its new franchise quarterback. The Vikings haven’t had an upper-level passer since Daunte Culpepper(notes) in the mid-2000s, so a new quarterback who can lead them to victory consistently is long overdue. For now, Ponder is just enjoying the opportunities he’s getting.

“Growing up as a kid you’re always watching Monday Night Football,” Ponder said. “It’s always a dream to get out and play. You hear nothing but good things about playing at Lambeau Field and how awesome an experience it’s going to be.”

Enjoy the mystique of it while you can, Christian. When it’s Monday night and you have the entire Packers defense and a sea of green and yellow bearing down on you, it’ll be more like a nightmare than a dream.

All we can do for now is hope that you come out of there unscathed with a victory in hand.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and is the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter.

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have reinstated cornerback Chris Cook to the active roster, ending his without-pay suspension after two weeks. But Cook won’t be playing, practicing or even at the team’s facility while he deals with a felony charge of domestic assault.

“We really think it’s best for him to focus on the legal matters and not be a part of what we’re doing right now,” coach Leslie Frazier said Monday after the decision was announced.

The Vikings agreed on the course of action with Cook and his agent, Hadley Engelhard, so the 24-year-old Cook can focus on his off-the-field situation.

“We want him to put his energy and efforts into that case,” Frazier said, sounding as if Cook has already played his last snap of the 2011 season. “It’s hard to say that we’re going to see him again considering what he’s facing, but we’ll see what happens.”

Cook has a Nov. 22 court hearing regarding the allegation he strangled his girlfriend after becoming angry that she spoke with a former boyfriend. Frazier, however, stopped short of ruling Cook out of the team’s future plans.

“It’s so tough to say today as we stand here in November, considering the situation and not knowing how it’s going to play out,” the coach said. “It’s hard to look into the future.”

For the present, the Vikings will play one short on their 53-man roster — without their best cover man. Veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield is the stalwart of the secondary, but he plays primarily against inside receivers and his strength is stopping the run.

Cook could face discipline from the NFL under the league’s personal conduct policy. Spokesman Greg Aiello said Cook’s situation remains “under review.”

Engelhard hasn’t returned messages seeking comment since his client’s arrest more than two weeks ago.

The Vikings could’ve kept Cook on the reserve/suspended list for two more weeks, but Frazier indicated he didn’t want the team to deal with that distraction. He said he’s simply hoping for the best for Cook, the Vikings’ second-round draft pick out of Virginia last year.

“Hopefully the allegations aren’t true. Hopefully he gets things turned around,” Frazier said.