Team plays it safe with tackle's elbow

MANKATO - Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams sat out team drills on the first day of training camp Friday as a precaution after having offseason surgery on his left elbow.

Williams had surgery on his elbow immediately after the Pro Bowl to "just clean it up a little bit." He wore a large brace on his left arm but participated in individual drills. He reported no problems after a two-hour practice in the morning.

"It's day to day," Williams said. "They just want to take it slow right now. I did all the individual things and it felt good."

Fred Evans took the snaps with the first team in place of Williams. Williams said he unsuccessfully lobbied the coaches to let him take part in the team portion of practice.

"I asked them if I could get a couple of snaps, and they said get back," Williams said.

Coach Brad Childress didn't sound too concerned about Williams' situation.

"I think it's important that he's able to build strength in that thing," Childress said. "It's healed. It's mended. Until he kind of gives us the green light that he has the power that he wants to have back in there [we're going to be cautious]."

Safety Darren Sharper provided a few good-natured jabs at the ongoing saga involving his former Green Bay teammate Brett Favre.

On whether he's had any conversations with Favre: "Not that I can say on the record. I don't have his cell phone. It's Packer-issued."

On whether he heard news that Favre is supposed to report to Packers training camp this weekend: "Is he really? I didn't hear that. So we're going to turn on the news and watch some more of the soap opera. 'As the Packer turns.'"

The brace was noticeably absent from running back Adrian Peterson's right knee on Friday. He wore the brace last season after suffering a torn lateral collateral ligament against Green Bay on Nov. 11.

Asked what he plans to do with the brace, Peterson smiled and said, "I'll probably frame it and put it up in my trophy case for memories."

Peterson said he feels no pressure to repeat his record-setting rookie season. He said in May that he hopes to rush for 2,000 yards this season; he stopped short of repeating that when asked his goal for rushing yards.

"Whatever it takes to help my team win the division title and get to that Super Bowl," he said. "Any way I can contribute. It doesn't matter if I have 200 yards. If we reach that Promised Land, I'm satisfied."

Injured defensive end Ray Edwards said he injured his lower back by working out too much during OTAs this offseason. Edwards began camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He did light running and exercises on a side field Friday.

"I was working out two to three times a day during the offseason," he said. "I guess my body said, 'If you don't want to give me no rest, I'll get some.'"

Asked about a timetable for his return, Edwards said: "I don't know. You'll have to talk to the trainers about that."

Quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers is wearing a large neck brace after having surgery June 30 at Mayo Clinic.

"A little spinal fusion in my neck," he said. "I thought I had back problems, and years ago I had spinal fusion. I went in, they took an MRI and said I had a little stenosis so they took care of a couple of deals in there. I didn't expect to be like this either."

Rogers said he will have to wear the brace anywhere from six weeks to three months.