Fewer bumps and bruises in camp

MANKATO - The Vikings will break training camp today with an extra bounce in their step thanks to a more generous schedule from coach Brad Childress.

"It was a little lighter than last year," safety Darren Sharper said Wednesday. "I know coach Childress made it a little less physical. We were still physical, and it was a physical camp. But it was a slight bit less than it was before."

Sharper was one of several veterans who voiced their concern about Childress' strenuous debut camp in 2006. In response, Childress cut out two days of two-a-day practices, added a day off, scheduled consecutive night practices against Kansas City and limited afternoon exertion.

Sharper said "it's hard to tell" if the changes will make a tangible impact on the season. But he added, "I know that we definitely got some good work in down here in Mankato."

Camp attendance down

The Vikings announced a camp fan attendance of almost 50,000. Two years ago, they attracted nearly 80,000 fans to camp. A total of 71,000 attended in 2004.

One of the summer's best-attended days was Wednesday, when the entire team signed autographs after the morning practice. According to Childress, the Vikings signed more than 15,000 autographs this summer in Mankato.

Player rotation

The Vikings hope to get all four quarterbacks playing time in Friday night's preseason game against the New York Jets. Tarvaris Jackson is scheduled to start and play the first quarter, followed by Brooks Bollinger (second quarter), Drew Henson (third) and Tyler Thigpen (fourth).

That arrangement will allow Bollinger to play with most of the Vikings' offensive starters. Other than Jackson and a handful of other selected veterans, first-team players on offense and defense will play until halftime.

Etc.

• Defensive tackle Fred Evans missed the afternoon practice and is scheduled for a plea hearing today in Miami-Dade (Fla.) Court. He has been charged with two felonies and one misdemeanor in connection with a June 23 fight with police in Miami Beach.

• Defensive end Erasmus James practiced for a fourth consecutive day since being activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list. But Childress said James will not play against the Jets. "I think it's probably more realistic to see if he can go [Aug. 25 at Seattle]," Childress said.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com