Day@Camp: A daily dispatch from Mankato, Aug. 6

Full head of steam

Tarvaris Jackson, like all the Vikings' quarterbacks, wears a red jersey in practice, meaning he is not to be touched by the defense. But that doesn't mean Jackson can't deliver a hit. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams found this out Monday when Jackson took off running during a full-contact drill. Williams did his best to pull up as he neared the QB, but Jackson delivered a stiff-arm that knocked the 310-pound Williams to the ground and drew a gasp from the crowd. "That's probably the most contact I'll ever get in practice," Jackson said, smiling.

Now that's a hit

Cornerback Cedric Griffin took the art of completing a tackle to another level when the first-team defense went against the second-team offense. As receiver Martin Nance caught a Brooks Bollinger pass near the sideline, Griffin wrapped up Nance and drove him into a portable advertisement perched on the sideline. Nance was OK, but from the looks of the sign it appeared to be headed for injured reserve.

Safety dance

The first-team defense made quick work of the No. 2 offense in a series that had the latter group pinned at its own 1-yard line. On the first play, Kevin Williams burst through the line and tackled running back Artose Pinner for a safety.

Q|Q

QUARTERBACK QUANDARY

Snippets from the quarterback transition

Jackson and Bollinger had been splitting reps more often with the first team of late, but Jackson got all the work with the starters during key portions of Monday's practice. This included a contact segment when the offense started drives on the 40-yard line of the defense, another that put the offense at its own 1-yard line and a period that focused on executing the 4-minute offense. During the first of these periods, Jackson led a touchdown drive against the second-team defense but could not get the team into the end zone against the top defense.

INJURY REPORT

WR Aundrae Allison (hamstring). Day-to-day

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

LB Ben Leber (calf). Day-to-day.

RB Wendell Mathis (muscle strain). Day-to-day.

WR Billy McMullen (calf). On non-football injury list. Day-to-day.

OL Dan Mozes (knee). Torn ACL will keep him out for season.

WR Sidney Rice (hamstring) Day-to-day.

DE Khreem Smith (ankle/knee). Day-to-day.

CB Ronyell Whitaker (ankle). Day-to-day.

CAMP CHATTER

"Let's go, offense!"

-- A frustrated Steve Hutchinson after the guard saw another in a long line of players stop a blitz-period drill because of a false start.