Read More: Visanthe Shiancoe (TE – MIN), Percy Harvin (WR – MIN), Christian Ponder (QB – MIN), Kyle Rudolph (TE – MIN), Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings may struggle to score against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12. Not only is Adrian Peterson’s status still up in the air, much of the Vikings’ offense is banged up.

Peterson did not participate in practice on either Wednesday or Thursday, and is recovering from an ankle injury sustained against the Raiders in Week 11. But both Visanthe Shiancoe and and Kyle Rudolph have missed practice this week, and Christian Ponder and Percy Harvin have both been limited.

That’s not a good sign for a team that can struggle on offense even at peak health.

Here’s the full Vikings practice and injury report for Week 12.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE: Cornerback Chris Cook (not injury-related), safety Husain Abdullah (concussion), running back Adrian Peterson (ankle), tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring), tight end Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps).

LIMITED PARTICIPATION: Linebacker Erin Henderson (hamstring), guard Anthony Herrera (knee), quarterback Christian Ponder (knee), wide receiver Percy Harvin (ribs).

FULL PARTICIPATION: Defensive tackle Christian Ballard (hamstring), offensive tackle Charlie Johnson (Achilles), safety Jamarca Sanford (shoulder).

For more on the Falcons, head to The Falcoholic; for more on the Vikings, visit Daily Norseman.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb on the sidelines against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field Sunday night, October 16, 2011. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff) (Chris Polydoroff)

Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder in fourth quarter action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field Sunday night, October 16, 2011. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff) (Chris Polydoroff)

The Christian Ponder era could begin in earnest this week.

With the Minnesota Vikings marred by a 1-5 start and Donovan McNabb guiding a shrinking passing game, coach Leslie Frazier said today he’s considering a change at quarterback and should know by Wednesday whether Ponder or McNabb will start Sunday against Green Bay.

“On Wednesday, we should come to a conclusion as to which direction we want to go, and I’ll be able to provide some insight one way or another as to why we chose to go in the direction that we’re going, whichever direction that will be,” Frazier said.

McNabb played his best statistical game of the year Sunday at Chicago, completing 19 of 24 passes for 177 yards. But the offense failed to generate

momentum in key situations during the 39-10 loss to the Bears.

Ponder entered the game with 14:50 left and completed 9 of 17 for 99 yards. A quarterback change could inject life into a frustrated locker room, as long as Ponder’s ready for full-time action.

It’s worth noting that Frazier endorsed McNabb as his starter on Mondays of the previous few weeks. Now he’s waiting until Wednesday, possibly a sign that his mind is made up already.

“The only criteria, the only qualifier is what’s best for our team,” said Frazier about what factors into the decision. “And that will be the criteria we use when we sit down and continue these discussions over the next couple days. That’s what this will be based on.”

Ponder’s development is

an important factor in the decision because Frazier said he wants Ponder, when the time’s right, ready to take over full time – not just for three weeks.

“You don’t want to have to be, week eight or nine, flip-flopping quarterbacks,” Frazier said. “So once the decision is made, if we were to decide to go to Christian, you’d like to be able to decide this is the way to go. But you don’t want to be, in my mind, going back and forth.”

Frazier had a first-hand account of a quarterback carousel in 2008, when Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson split time.

That’s all the news for today.

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August 4, 2011

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said Wednesday that he remains hopeful that there will be a special legislative session in the fall to consider a stadium bill for the team.

Wilf said the team is still working on its $1 billion plan for a
new stadium in the Twin Cities suburb of Arden Hills, but remains
confident that they are getting closer to presenting it to
lawmakers for approval.

“We still have some work ahead of us to put all the pieces in
place, but we’re very confident that we will have something worked
out in the near future,” Wilf said at training camp at Minnesota
State University, Mankato. “Hopefully that could be addressed in a
special session. But we’re very confident in our location and the
future of the franchise in a new stadium in Arden Hills.”

Gov. Mark Dayton said last month that the Vikings plan was
“incomplete and unsatisfactory.” The Vikings initially were
hoping to be included in a special session this summer to address
the state’s budget shortfall, but the ensuing government shutdown
forced the stadium issue to the back burner yet again.

Dayton did say he would seriously consider calling another
special legislative session later this year if he sees a stadium
plan that’s a “good deal for Minnesota.” He says this “takes
every partner” and “that hasn’t occurred yet.”

The Vikings’ lease at the Metrodome expires after the upcoming
season, and the team has been pressuring Dayton and the legislature
to address the issue and ensure the franchise’s long-term viability
in Minnesota.

The team and Ramsey County officials have at times expressed
frustration with the process, with vice president of stadium
affairs Lester Bagley saying in July that the team was “assessing
its options.”

But Wilf said on Wednesday that he has not reached a breaking
point in the process and that the team remained committed to
getting this deal done.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us and it’s an ongoing
process,” Wilf said. “We want to make sure when it’s all said and
done that the facility works out for everybody who is a partner in
the venture and that it’s a venture that everybody can look forward
to and utilize for the best benefit of everybody in Minnesota and
for our fans.”

Wilf also expressed relief and excitement that the NFL’s labor
battle with the players ended before the start of training camp.
While Commissioner Roger Goodell and representatives from the
players’ union were still working on the finishing touches of the
new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday, Wilf said he was
pleased that the focus was shifting from the courtroom back to the
field where it belongs.

He said he was very pleased with the addition of new quarterback
Donovan McNabb, whom he called “a consummate professional and an
exceptional quarterback.”

Wilf and his brother Mark addressed the team after the second
practice of the day on Wednesday, and both said they expected big
things after a disappointing 6-10 finish last year.

“We’re all very excited to get going here and compete,” Zygi
Wilf said. “That’s always been our goal, to win championships. We
start out all even and hopefully we’ll be on top when it’s all
over.”

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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