Vikings prognosis: Jackson in, Wade out for Sunday

Tarvaris Jackson is in, and Bobby Wade might be out. So went the revolving door Wednesday at Winter Park, where the Vikings appeared confident that Jackson is ready to resume his starting quarterback role but were concerned about continued swelling in Wade's hyperextended knee.

The Vikings' receptions leader with 23, Wade sat out all of practice Wednesday because "we can do better to keep him inside and treat him," coach Brad Childress said. The Vikings do not have to declare his status until Friday, but players who miss Wednesday practices don't often play in the next game.

Wade has been the most reliable receiver in the NFL's 30th-ranked pass offense, one that Jackson apparently will resume control of Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. After his fractured right index finger showed significant improvement during a throwing session Tuesday, Jackson took almost all of the first-team snaps at practice Wednesday.

"It felt pretty good," Jackson said. "I know it's going to be sore tonight from all of the banging I took on it today, but I know it's going to be OK."

The Vikings have designated this season for evaluating Jackson's long-term potential, but he has missed three games and posted a 48.7 passer rating in the other four. As midseason approaches, the Vikings are still trying to determine whether he is their quarterback of the future.

Wednesday, Childress reiterated his faith that Jackson gives the team its best chance to win.

"I do, and I believed that coming out of training camp," Childress said. "The other side of that equation is that you have got these nine games. We have talked about the injuries already. [But] I want to see exactly what you have in that package, and I want to see him grow and develop."

Injuries have limited Jackson since he entered the NFL last year, beginning with cartilage damage in his knee suffered during practice. That injury required surgery, but this season's maladies -- the finger and a strained groin -- are ailments that are matters of pain threshold as much as physical limitation.

Fair or not, players must be careful to avoid injury-prone reputations in the ultra-macho world of professional football. Asked if he was satisfied with Jackson's response to the injuries, Childress said: "He has been way compliant in terms of the time he spends here in trying to get well.

"We talk about it [being] no sin to get hurt, [but] it's a sin to stay hurt. Why is that? Because, providing nothing is [serious], there are so many things, so many modalities, so many different techniques ... all the things that they can do now to help bring you back. He has availed himself to all of those."

In interviews and in personal discussions with Jackson, Childress has used his 1999 experience with Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb. That year, McNabb returned quickly after suffering a relatively serious knee sprain in the 14th game of the season. He sat out the following week, but he returned to throw three touchdown passes in a season-ending victory over St. Louis.

"He went at it doggedly and rehabbed it where it was real easy to shut it down," Childress said. "You have to learn how to battle through those things. By the same token, we are never going to put somebody out there that doesn't have his faculties. ... Guys have different pain thresholds, and usually the medical staff is going to determine that."

If anything, Jackson appears more inexperienced in dealing with injuries than he does pain-averse. He suffered only mild ailments during his high school and college careers, and his former trainer at Alabama State jokingly told him this week that it was all an attention-grab.

"But you can't get too much attention on the sidelines," Jackson said. "So it's been frustrating because I've been injury-free and always considered myself the guy. For me to not be able to go out and play because of a finger injury, it's kind of out of character for me."

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com