Injured RB Taylor practices; ability to play still doubtful

Chester Taylor did some work in practice for the first time this week on Friday, but the Vikings running back remains doubtful for Sunday's game at Detroit because of bruised ribs.

Taylor went through some drills, but not in full pads.

Before practice, Taylor made it clear he would make the final call on whether he plays.

"I'm the only person who knows how it feels, so I've got the last say on it, basically," he said, adding it would be a game-time decision. "If I can go, I can go, and if I can't, I can't. ... It's all about if it's tolerable."

Coach Brad Childress confirmed it will be Taylor's decision: "It's his body, and there's feedback that you have to have. He knows what the battle is like, and he's probably able to quantify that better than I would."

One of Childress' main concerns is that Taylor will try to play, then realize the injury is too painful. "He knows what is at stake if he puts his hand up and says, 'I can go,' and then he taps himself out three plays into it," Childress said. "Not a good thing."

Taylor is fifth in the NFL with 1,098 rushing yards on 265 carries and third on the team with 38 receptions.

Taylor said the Vikings training staff can provide a protective device for his ribs if he plays. If he doesn't go, Ciatrick Fason likely would serve as the No. 1 running back. Mewelde Moore and former Lion Artose Pinner, who has been inactive the past three games, could help carry the load.

Taylor, though, does have some added incentive to play Sunday. He is from the Detroit area and has secured 30-plus tickets for family and friends.

As for the hit that put him out in the third quarter of last Sunday's Chicago game, Taylor would not say who delivered it but believes it came while he was on the ground.

"One of their people came and hit me late," he said. "They got a free shot on me." Asked if he was unhappy about it, Taylor said: "It's part of the game. I can't do nothing about it. It's over with, it's done."

Mum's the word

In his final meeting with the media this week, Childress refused to confirm that quarterback Brad Johnson will start Sunday.

Backup Tarvaris Jackson has acknowledged as much, but Childress stood by his original intent to keep the Lions guessing.

Asked if he was prepared to announce his starter, Childress said: "Do you want me to?"

Asked again, Childress said: "No, I'm not able to. No."

Backup Brooks Bollinger had been upgraded to questionable on the injury report, but it appears Bollinger will be available only in an emergency against the Lions. Childress also said that Jackson looked "better and better as the week went on."

Right tackles to stay

Childress said Mike Rosenthal and Ryan Cook will continue to play at right tackle even though Marcus Johnson is ready to return from the sprained left ankle he suffered Nov. 19 at Miami.

Rosenthal started the past two games and is expected to get the call again Sunday, with Cook coming in for the occasional series. Johnson was the starter for the first 10 games but struggled on several occasions. Childress, however, did not make a move to bench the second-year player until now.

Right guard Artis Hicks, who also has missed the past two games because of a sprained left ankle, practiced this week but remains listed as questionable. That means there is a good chance Jason Whittle will start again Sunday.

Etc.

• In a rare occurrence, Childress watched special teams practice from the sideline Friday. Childress, who issued a "call to arms" this week in an effort to improve coverage units, typically does not arrive at practice until the full squad begins working.

• Chicago safety Chris Harris was fined $7,500 by the NFL for two third-quarter plays from Sunday's game. In one instance he kicked a Vikings player while attempting to make a tackle on a kicking play. He also hit Moore out of bounds after the running back picked up 24 yards on a pass play. A 15-yard personal foul penalty was assessed in the second instance.