QB Jackson making progress

By Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune

Last update: July 29, 2007 - 9:29 PM

MANKATO - Three days and five practices into training camp, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has worked almost exclusively with the first-team offense, while Brooks Bollinger has been getting snaps with the second unit.

Although coach Brad Childress said Jackson and Bollinger would compete for the starting job, the way the workload has been distributed comes as no surprise. Short of a complete meltdown, Jackson is expected to be under center when the Vikings open the season on Sept. 9 against Atlanta.

Asked for his early assessment of Jackson's performance, Childress said: "There are some highs and lows. There are some balls that he wishes he had back, but I do see him progressing and I do see him getting better, as I see Brooks getting better every day. I like what I see with the amount of stuff that we are throwing at him, and not only offensively, the amount of stuff that they are throwing at him in the different situations."

Jackson's strength is a strong arm and good mobility. But he's still trying to learn how to read NFL defenses and make the necessary adjustments in running the West Coast offense. That process might not be as quick as many would like, but Jackson said he feels he is getting better each day.

"Things are coming a lot more clear to me and slowing up for me every day," he said. "That's the main thing about a quarterback, you just want everything to slow up and kind of take control of everything."

No rush

It might be a few days before safety Darren Sharper returns.

The veteran, who sat out a second consecutive practice Sunday after straining his shoulder in a collision with fullback Tony Richardson on Saturday morning, could be out until Friday when the Vikings practice against Kansas City in Mankato.

"We're not going to rush it," Sharper said.

Veteran Mike Doss has received the majority of the snaps with the first-team defense in Sharper's place. Doss, who had his 2006 season ended because of a torn left anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the Colts, was signed as a free agent during the offseason.

Etc.

• Bryant McKinnie (hamstring) remains on the non-football injury list, but Childress said the left tackle is getting closer to returning. "I don't think he has really kind of cut it loose yet," Childress said of McKinnie's ability to run. "He's got to be able to do that."

• Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (ankle) did not practice Sunday and spent the majority of the time inside rehabbing.

• Nose tackle Howard Green saw extensive action in place of Pat Williams on Sunday. It isn't that anything is wrong with Williams, Childress said. Rather, the coaches wanted to get a look at Green going against the first-team offensive line.

• Childress gave the players Sunday morning off from practice so they could rest. Childress used some of the time before the players took the field on Sunday afternoon for a film session. "We really compile a lot of film here that if they don't get a chance to watch, they don't learn," he said. "The old 'A picture paints a thousand words.' "

• Because the defensive players won a competition with the offense in Saturday's practice, the former group had a 1 a.m. curfew and the latter had to be in bed by 11 p.m. Saturday.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com