Vikings rookie right tackle Phil Loadholt has been receiving nearly constant treatment on his left ankle since re-injuring it last week in practice and expressed confidence today that he would be able to test it out on Wednesday when the Vikings began preparations for Sunday's game against Baltimore.

Coach Brad Childress said Loadholt would do some work on Tuesday to see how the ankle is responding.

Meanwhile, Childress gave a positive review to veteran Artis Hicks, who started in place of Loadholt on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. "I thought he did a decent job for not having practiced there the whole week," Childress said. "We bounced him around quite a bit [at various positions]. With only having Friday as a full practice at the right tackle position, I thought he did a nice job for being on that side. He is a natural left-sided guy, left-handed guy. I thought he did a nice job for lining up there."

Asked what he saw on film, Hicks said: "There was a lot of stuff I wish I could go back and do over again, but I think that's how we all are. You have to be your own worst critic in this profession and there are some things I feel like I wish I could go back and correct because it's small things. But it's just a matter of repetition."

Hicks also was asked today about the play on which Rams defensive tackle Gary Gibson suffered a season-ending injury. It happened in the third quarter when Gibson was engaged with right guard Anthony Herrera initially, but after Brett Favre released what turned into a 47-yard completion to Sidney Rice, Hicks hit Gibson.

"I didn't know that [he was out for the year]," Hicks said when told the news. "I blocked my guy and I turned and he was right there on my left. He was still engaged with Herrera and I just gave him a shove. I didn't know the guy was out for the year though. It's football and it happens."

Hicks, asked if he had any regrets, said: "I was just doing my job. I think that's well in the confines of what we do as offensive linemen. We don't set out to hurt anybody or put anybody out for the year. But it happens. It's unfortunate, but it happens."