Peterson, Henderson both say they hope to play despite their pains

Article by: MARK CRAIG , Star Tribune
Updated: December 1, 2011 - 11:13 PM

Adrian Peterson said his high left ankle sprain doesn't have to be 100 percent for him to feel he should play against the Broncos on Sunday.

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Adrian Peterson injured his ankle while he was tackled by Oakland's Michael Huff (24) on this play Nov. 20.

Photo: Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune file

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Adrian Peterson said his high left ankle sprain doesn't have to be 100 percent for him to feel he should play against the Broncos on Sunday.

"I've played several times when I wasn't 100 percent," the Vikings running back said Thursday. "If I feel I can go and I can help this team and I can be productive, I'm going."

The final decision belongs to coach Leslie Frazier, who will make that determination based on what he sees in practice on Friday. Peterson, who missed last week's loss in Atlanta, has not practiced this week, although he was able to jog on Wednesday and was scheduled to do some cutting drills on Thursday.

"It felt pretty good," Peterson said of Wednesday's jogging. "I was surprised. My spirit was built up a little bit."

Listening to Peterson talk, he probably felt more pain from sitting at home watching the Falcons' pivotal goal-line stand last Sunday. Like most Vikings fans, Peterson thought Percy Harvin should have been awarded a touchdown on third-and-goal.

Asked if he was shouting at the TV, Peterson said, "Yeah, and throwing things, too."

Henderson optimistic

Middle linebacker E.J. Henderson has missed both practices this week because of a shoulder injury, but he said it's just a precaution and that he'll practice on Friday.

"I'll be able to rock on Sunday," said Henderson, who injured the shoulder in the first quarter on Sunday but continued to play.

In other injury news, cornerback Asher Allen (shoulder), right guard Anthony Herrera (knee) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps) all were limited.

Defensive end Jared Allen missed practice Thursday because of a personal family matter, Frazier said.

Ponder's misread

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said it was "surprising" that quarterback Christian Ponder took the sack on first-and-goal from the Atlanta 3-yard line last week.

"It was a play that we'd had in the game plan for five or six weeks running," Musgrave said. "In practice, he had made the right decision to move on in the progression and get the ball out of his hands, but it didn't take place that day in Atlanta."

Page knows the defense

For the first time since 1978, the Vikings have someone named "Page" on their roster. It's a tad unlikely that safety Jarrad Page will end up as good as that guy named Alan, but Jarrad still might provide some comforting depth in desperate times for this year's depleted secondary.

"He has knowledge of the defense," defensive coordinator Fred Pagac said. "He has been in Philadelphia [earlier this season], similar-type styles, and he knows the lingo."

Page has 12 interceptions in six seasons with the Chiefs, Patriots and Eagles. He'll back up rookie Mistral Raymond at free safety.

Cheap shot?

Punter Chris Kluwe has already vented via Twitter on the block that broke a bone in long snapper Cullen Loeffler's lower back. Thursday, Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer was asked if he agreed with Kluwe that the hit by Kerry Meier was a cheap shot.

"Well, you know, it is football, and the guy, his assignment, most likely, was to block the snapper, because Cullen can cover," Priefer said. "I know the [special teams] coach there [Keith Armstrong], and he's a good football coach, and he's not a dirty guy, he's not a cheap guy. It was an unfortunate situation and it got one of our guys hurt."

Priefer doesn't partake in Twitter but said, "I love the fact that Chris is defending one of our players, which he should, because they're friends and they've been working together for a long time."

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Chicago WSox - J. Peavy	2:35 PM
LA Angels - J. Vargas

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Washington - D. Haren	3:10 PM
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Date/Opponent	Time	W	L	Score
2013 preseason
Aug 9 - vs. Houston	7 pm
Aug 16 - at Buffalo	6 pm
Aug 25 - at San Francisco	7 pm
Aug 29 - vs. Tennessee	7 pm
2013 regular season
Sep 8 - at Detroit	Noon
Sep 15 - at Chicago	Noon
Sep 22 - vs. Cleveland	Noon
Sep 29 - vs. Pittsburgh (in London)	Noon
Oct 6 - Bye
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Oct 21 - at. NY Giants	7:40 pm
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Nov 3 - at Dallas	Noon
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