'Odd Couple' reunites after injuries hit offensive line

Veterans Mike Rosenthal and Jason Whittle found themselves in starting roles for the first time this season on Sunday because of injuries on the right side of the Vikings offensive line.

This change, however, caused no concern about a lack of familiarity between two players coach Brad Childress says look "like the Odd Couple" because of the amount of time they spend together. "When they come back in the [offseason for workouts] you never see one without the other," Childress said. "You see one walk through the door, you see the next guy walk through the door."

Rosenthal and Whittle have been good friends since spending four seasons together with the Giants; the pair started at right tackle and right guard, respectively, for much of their final year together in New York in 2002. Against Arizona, they were back in those spots, although rookie Ryan Cook replaced Rosenthal for 25 snaps.

"I think anytime you're familiar with somebody and you played next to somebody as much as we have, that it helps," Whittle said. "You know exactly what the other guy is going to do and you don't really have to say much to each other."

It was the opportunity to reunite with Rosenthal that played a central role in Whittle's decision to sign a one-year contract with the Vikings in March.

"I had looked at the situation, there were a couple of teams that I could have gone to or that I was talking to," Whittle said. "Just looking at the circumstances here and what Coach Childress was trying to do and then knowing Mike was here. It really did have a big effect on us deciding to come here."

Said Rosenthal: "I always kept in touch with Whittle wherever he has gone. It was one of those things where we both wanted to be here because we wanted to play together again."

Whittle, 31, joined the Vikings knowing that his job would be to serve as a backup at center and both guard spots. Rosenthal, 29, became the starter at right tackle in 2003 after signing with the Vikings as a free agent but has joined Whittle on the sideline, playing behind Marcus Johnson.

But Rosenthal and Whittle found themselves back on the field together Nov. 19 at Miami when right guard Artis Hicks and Johnson suffered sprained left ankles. How long those two will remain sidelined is uncertain but even in a reserve role, Rosenthal and Whittle have enjoyed this season.

"I think it has been fun," Rosenthal said. "There are a lot of locker rooms in this league that just have maybe bad guys or it's not fun showing up to work. But it has been fun every day here. We've got a good group."

Etc.

• Vikings middle linebacker Napoleon Harris has played two games despite having a cast on his dislocated left wrist. He does not know when he will be able to get rid of the cast and admits, "I'm definitely not myself." Asked to elaborate, Harris said: "I can't grab [opponents] the same like I could if I didn't have it on, but I can still do things that are required for me to do from a football point of view. Just having it on it prohibits some movement."

• Bears starting strong safety Todd Johnson could miss the game because of a sprained right ankle, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. If he does, Chris Harris will replace him.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com