Read More: Visanthe Shiancoe (TE – MIN), E.J. Henderson (LB – MIN), Anthony Herrera (G – MIN), Antoine Winfield (CB – MIN), Adrian Peterson (RB – MIN), Percy Harvin (WR – MIN), Jamarca Sanford (S – MIN), Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers, Oct 30, 2011 12:00 PM CDT

The Minnesota Vikings have been lucky they haven’t really had to deal with any offensive injuries as the unit has struggled while healthy this season. The team released its opening injury report for the game against the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, however, and it included bad news for both Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin, among others.

The Vikings had four players that couldn’t practice on Wednesday due to injury, which doesn’t sound all that terrible, except for the fact that three of the players that sat out are skill position starters on offense. Peterson was out with an ankle injury, Harvin missed due to the rib injury he suffered last week and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe didn’t practice because of a foot injury. Guard Anthony Herrera was the only other player not to practice due to injury concerns as he heals from a knee injury.

As far as other important players are concerned, linebacker E.J. Henderson was limited with a knee injury and Antoine Winfield the same with his neck injury. Defensive backfield members Hussain Abdullah and Jamarca Sanford both participated fully in practice despite appearing on the report.

For more on the Vikings, be sure to visit Daily Norseman. If interested in joining in on the Panthers community, Cat Scratch Reader should have everything needed.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin returned to practice on Friday and is listed as probable for the game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Harvin missed practice on Thursday because of an illness. But Harvin and the Vikings said it was not related to migraine headaches that have caused him to miss time in the past.

“Man, it was a stomach ache,” Harvin said after practice on Friday, quickly brushing aside any concerns about a migraine resurfacing. “I’m fine, fine, fine.”

Harvin has played in just over 50 per cent of the snaps through the first two weeks, and offensive co-ordinator Bill Musgrave said they’d like to get him more action against the Lions (2-0) on Sunday. Coach Leslie Frazier said Harvin looked ready in his return to practice on Friday and doesn’t expect there to be any limitations during the game.

“I thought he looked pretty good,” Frazier said. “He went through everything in practice, moved around pretty good and should be fine for Sunday.”

Cornerback Chris Cook is listed as questionable with a groin injury. He practised all week long and Frazier said they will need the six-foot-two Cook to play against Lions receiver Calvin Johnson.

“When we looked at our division, that was one of the things that we looked at, trying to match up at times,” Frazier said of drafting Cook in the second round last year. “Having two big corners with Cedric (Griffin) and Chris, we thought that would help us. This is one of those games where we want it to pay off.”

Linebacker E.J. Henderson (knee) was the only other player limited in practice on Friday, but Frazier expects him to be on the field against the Lions, who are favoured in a visit to Minnesota (0-2) for the first time since 1981.

The Vikings also are getting defensive tackle Kevin Williams back from a two-game suspension. Williams is also dealing with a painful case of plantar fasciitis in his left foot that he said he expects to be an issue all season long. But Frazier said Williams looked good in practice this week and the coach is more concerned with his conditioning than the pain in his foot.

“That’s something we’ll have to help him with from a rep standpoint and monitoring his reps,” Frazier said. “As far as moving around, he’s moving around pretty good. The conditioning will probably be a thing that we will have to look out for.”

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin(notes) returned
to practice on Friday and is listed as probable for the game against the Detroit
Lions on Sunday.

Harvin missed practice on Thursday because of an illness. But Harvin and the
Vikings said it was not related to migraine headaches that have caused him to
miss time in the past.

“Man, it was a stomach ache,” Harvin said after practice on Friday,
quickly brushing aside any concerns about a migraine resurfacing. “I’m fine,
fine, fine.”

Harvin has played in just over 50 percent of the snaps through the first two
weeks, and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said they’d like to get him more
action against the Lions (2-0) on Sunday. Coach Leslie Frazier said Harvin
looked ready in his return to practice on Friday and doesn’t expect there to be
any limitations during the game.

“I thought he looked pretty good,” Frazier said. “He went through
everything in practice, moved around pretty good and should be fine for
Sunday.”

Cornerback Chris Cook(notes) is listed as questionable with a groin injury. He
practiced all week long and Frazier said they will need the 6-foot-2 Cook to
play against Lions receiver Calvin Johnson(notes).

“When we looked at our division, that was one of the things that we looked
at, trying to match up at times,” Frazier said of drafting Cook in the second
round last year. “Having two big corners with Cedric (Griffin) and Chris, we
thought that would help us. This is one of those games where we want it to pay
off.”

Linebacker E.J. Henderson(notes) (knee) was the only other player limited in
practice on Friday, but Frazier expects him to be on the field against the
Lions, who are favored in a visit to Minnesota (0-2) for the first time since
1981.

The Vikings also are getting defensive tackle Kevin Williams(notes) back from a
two-game suspension. Williams is also dealing with a painful case of plantar
fasciitis in his left foot that he said he expects to be an issue all season
long. But Frazier said Williams looked good in practice this week and the coach
is more concerned with his conditioning than the pain in his foot.

“That’s something we’ll have to help him with from a rep standpoint and
monitoring his reps,” Frazier said. “As far as moving around, he’s moving
around pretty good. The conditioning will probably be a thing that we will have
to look out for.”

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are trying to put wide receiver Percy Harvin on the field more.

Harvin leads the team with nine catches and 83 yards receiving through two games, plus 33 yards rushing and a kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play of the season at San Diego. But Harvin was only used on about half of the snaps in last week’s loss to Tampa Bay, largely because he’s not a part of a certain formation the Vikings used often and ran the ball well out of in that game.

Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said Thursday he wants to work Harvin into more of the offense to take advantage of his versatility and diverse skills. Minnesota hosts Detroit on Sunday.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are starting the regular season relatively healthy.

They listed backup cornerback Asher Allen as questionable for Sunday’s opener at San Diego. Allen has a foot problem. By rule of the NFL’s injury report, he has a 50 percent chance of playing against the Chargers. With four other cornerbacks available, the Vikings could put Allen on the seven-man inactive list for the game.

Right tackle Phil Loadholt returned to practice on Friday after missing the day before to tend to an unspecified family issue. Head coach Leslie Frazier saidLoadholt “should be fine” and that “his mind should be clear.”

Left unsettled is the kickoff return role. Frazier said he hasn’t yet determined whether Percy Harvin or Lorenzo Booker will handle that.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—Marcus Sherels(notes) will be the punt returner to start
the season for the Minnesota Vikings.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Wednesday that Sherels will get the first chance,
with wide receiver Greg Camarillo(notes) also available. The Vikings open the season
Sunday at San Diego.

Sherels went undrafted out of the University of Minnesota, landed on the
practice squad last year and took advantage of injuries to take a spot on the
active roster at the end of the season. The native of Rochester, Minn., played
well enough in camp at cornerback to stick around this year.

Frazier said the team hasn’t decided who will return kickoffs. Receiver
Percy Harvin(notes) was a Pro Bowl pick two seasons ago as a rookie, but the Vikings
have been hesitant to risk his health. Running back Lorenzo Booker(notes) is the other
option.

But there were signs of progress during their exhibition game victory at Seattle during the weekend, and an identity under new coordinator Bill Musgrave has begun to emerge.

“Anytime you’re complacent and think you’ve got it all figured out, that’s when you’re going to lose,” wide receiver Percy Harvin said, adding: “Still got a lot of time so we’re going to get it done.”

The first-stringers still haven’t produced a touchdown in two preseason games, spanning four series, but quarterback Donovan McNabb and the Vikings moved the ball against the Seahawks. They went from their own 1-yard line Saturday night to the Seattle 18 before settling for a field goal.

McNabb’s throws were spread around, and that will probably be a season-long trend. When Musgrave was the quarterbacks coach in Atlanta, the Falcons used their tight ends and running backs as passing targets frequently, and they handed the ball to Michael Turner often as the featured runner.

MANKATO, Minn. — Percy Harvin was the first player through the door at Minnesota Vikings headquarters when the lockout ended.

The player who slipped in the draft three years ago after concerns about his character is emerging as the vocal leader for Donovan McNabb’s unsung receiving corps in training camp.

Coaches have raved about Harvin’s growth. A group of young receivers learning the game during a hectic timeline are benefiting from his guidance.

Harvin says he made it a point to become more of a leader in the locker room this season after seeing a void during last year’s 6-10 season.

McNabb has a history of throwing to shorter receivers and says there is no doubt that Harvin has the potential to be his No. 1 target.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.