Running back Chester Taylor was limited for a second consecutive day in practice Thursday and appears in jeopardy of missing a game in his hometown of Detroit for the second consecutive year.
Taylor's ailment is listed as a hip on the official injury report, but the Vikings termed it a bruised oblique early in the week. Whatever it is, coach Brad Childress made it clear he is going to be cautious.
"I don't think you can put a guy out there at that high-impact position that can't weather the storm," Childress said. "We would do ourselves a disservice if, for instance, he got in and carried the ball for two plays and all of a sudden he's sitting on the sidelines. And somebody else wasn't up and now I'm short all the way around the block. So it's really important that between the doctors and Chester and myself, that he is honest and accurate."
Childress said there remained "a lot of time" to see how Taylor progresses. Under the new format for the injury report, the Vikings do not have to classify Taylor's status for Sunday's game until today.
The only game the former Detroit River Rouge High School standout missed in 2006 came last December at Ford Field. Artose Pinner, who is no longer with the Vikings, filled in and rushed for 125 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns. Rookie Adrian Peterson will get the majority of the carries Sunday if Taylor can't go. Peterson rushed for 103 yards in his NFL debut last Sunday against the Falcons after Taylor was forced to leave in the first quarter.
Vikings remain 32nd
The Vikings are ranked last in the NFL in Forbes' valuations of each franchise for the third consecutive year. The list, which was posted on Forbes' website Thursday night, puts the Vikings' value at $782 million. That's up from $720 million last year and $658 million in 2005.
The Atlanta Falcons are next to last at $796 million, and the San Francisco 49ers are 30th at $799 million. The average value of a franchise is $957 million. Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley declined to comment on Forbes' numbers; Forbes has the Vikings last almost exclusively because of their stadium situation.
The Dallas Cowboys, who will be moving into a new $1 billion stadium in 2009, took over the top spot in the Forbes list from the Washington Redskins with a value of $1.5 billion. The Redskins are second at $1.467 billion and New England is third at $1.199 billion.
Etc.
• Special teams coordinator Paul Ferraro indicated that Peterson's opportunity to return the opening kickoff against Atlanta might not be a one-shot deal. "The more opportunities we can get Adrian out there the better," Ferraro said. " ... He is excited to do it."
• Safety Mike Doss (calf) and fullbacks Tony Richardson (bruised forearm) and Naufahu Tahi (ankle) took part in a limited portion of practice for a second consecutive day. Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu (hand) and receiver Robert Ferguson (ankle) did not miss any time. The Lions added backup linebacker Anthony Cannon (quadriceps) to the injury report.
Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com
vikings/nfl
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