Day@Camp: A daily dispatch from Mankato

By Mark Craig, Star Tribune

Last update: July 29, 2007 - 8:04 PM

Tough stretch for T-Jack

Here's a four-play sequence that served as a snapshot of the growing pains of young starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson:

• Jackson overthrows a well-covered Troy Williamson on a deep ball down the left sideline.

• In an obvious miscommunication with a receiver, Jackson throws a mid-range pass to his right. Only there's no receiver there. Cornerback Marcus McCauley, doing his best Willie Mays impersonation, makes a diving, over-the-shoulder interception. Or at least we think it was an interception. Coach Brad Childress probably would have thrown his red challenge flag.

• Throwing into heavy traffic over the middle, Jackson has his pass to Cortez Hankton tipped by safety Dwight Smith and intercepted by cornerback Cedric Griffin.

• And, finally, unable to locate any open receivers, Jackson tucks the ball and runs.

"[The interceptions] are frustrating," Jackson said. "But it's just part of the process. Peyton Manning and all those guys, they throw interceptions, too. You got to have a short memory. And I really don't remember throwing any today, so that's how short my memory is."

Q|Q

QUARTERBACK QUANDARY

Snippets from the quarterback transition

Drew Henson probably didn't score any points in his battle with rookie seventh-round draft pick Tyler Thigpen for the No. 3 QB job when defensive tackle Alex Guerrero intercepted him during an 11-on-11 drill. Henson is 6-4. Guerrero is listed at 6-1. Make that kindly listed at 6-1.

Guerrero, who played for the Rhein Fire in the now-defunct NFL Europa last season, jumped up, tipped the ball and managed to hang on.

INJURY REPORT

DE Erasmus James (knee): on physically unable to perform list.

LB Ben Leber (strained calf): missed practice; day-to-day.

LT Bryant McKinnie (hamstring): on non-football injury (NFI) list; day-to-day.

WR Billy McMullen (strained calf): on NFI list; day-to-day.

DE Brian Robison (hamstring): missed practice; day-to-day.

S Darren Sharper (shoulder): missed practice; day-to-day.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe (ankle): missed practice; day-to-day.

CAMP CHATTER

"I want this on the record: I do have a 33-inch vertical. You can Google it."

-- Guerrero, commenting on how he "leaped" up to make his third career practice interception, his first as a Viking.