Robison might need surgery on vein in leg

MANKATO - Vikings defensive end Brian Robison could be sidelined indefinitely because of a varicose vein in his left leg and might need surgery to correct the problem.

Robison, who was in the Twin Cities being examined Monday while the Vikings were going through their morning practice, said doctors told him the vein in his calf area "has to get worked on." The Vikings expected to know more about the situation either later Monday or this morning.

"It's been something that has been there for a while, and it's just kind of flared up on me," he said. "It's something they are looking at, and we went and got it looked at again today. So we'll find out [Tuesday] what we need to do with it."

Robison has been working as the backup to Jared Allen at right end. A fourth-round pick in 2007, he had 4 1/2 sacks as a rookie, tying linebacker E.J. Henderson for second on the Vikings.

Robison said he has had the varicose vein since high school and that it has gotten worse in the last couple of days.

"It will keep me out a little bit of time if I have surgery on it but it's not going to be substantial," he said. "It's not going to go halfway into the season or anything like that. It will be maybe a two- or three-week ordeal and I'll be back at it."

With Robison missing the full-pads practice Monday morning, Otis Grigsby worked with the second team at right end. Grigsby, who has been impressive in camp, had been the third-team left end.

There was a bit of commotion Monday morning when quarterback Gus Frerotte was nowhere to be found at the start of practice. Was Frerotte headed to Green Bay in a trade that would put Brett Favre in purple?

The answer: nope.

Frerotte, who walked on the field shortly after practiced started, was held out because of inflammation in his back. Frerotte had been getting treatment for two days, the Vikings had Sunday off, and he expects to be back today. "I don't think it's something that's that serious," Frerotte said. "Now's the time to recover from it."

And what does Frerotte, 37, think of the ongoing saga involving the 38-year-old Favre? "I hardly watch it," he said. "It's just a circus right now is all it is. I don't even pay attention."

Coach Brad Childress made things interesting Monday morning, with his team in full pads for only the fourth time in 16 practices.

Electing to alter the practice routine, Childress went with "sudden change" putting the ball at the 30-yard line and going 11-on-11 with full contact.

"I always liken sudden change [to] when the bell goes off at the fire station," Childress said. "Guys don't roll out of bed and say, 'Man, I can't believe that.' No, it is 'Get your helmet, you can't feel sorry for yourself.'"

• With Frerotte out, fifth-round pick John David Booty worked with the second-team offense. Veteran Brooks Bollinger, meanwhile, took reps with the third unit. Childress said this doesn't mean Booty has passed Bollinger on the depth chart.

"It's just a matter of when Gus gets a day off, you want to accelerate guys that you usually do not get a chance to see," Childress said. "He got minimal snaps the other night against Kansas City, so we just want to see him in some of that situational football. ... It was great for us to be able to evaluate him."

• Childress, who was sporting a full beard when he came off vacation in late July and then wore a goatee for the first week-plus of training camp, was back to just sporting a mustache Monday.

• Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith attended practice Monday and spent time talking to Childress after the afternoon special-teams session.