Childress says he's unsure (really) on Jackson

At times during his tenure as Vikings coach, it has been clear Brad Childress has made a decision about the status of an injured player but wasn't going to tip his hand.

Childress said Tuesday that isn't the case when it comes to whether quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will play in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh.

"I really have not [decided]," Childress said. "He certainly hasn't either ... I understand the urgency if it was a regular-season game, but we're treating it as if it was a regular-season game. I want to see how far he can come in that period of time."

Jackson suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament in the first quarter against Baltimore on Saturday. He missed three games because of injury last year.

The media were only allowed to watch the Vikings go through stretching exercises during Tuesday's practice and Jackson was on the field in shoulder pads at that time. He no longer was around when the media returned at the end of practice and has not been available to comment the past two days.

Childress said Jackson participated in the morning walk-through and some individual drills in practice but did not do any of the 11-on-11 work. Jackson has been wearing a brace on his knee similar to what running back Adrian Peterson wore last season.

Jackson could use the device in games to provide support.

"They build it so it's really custom fit," Childress said. "It's like a part of your leg. ... It will be a thing he could play out of, too. Most of those guys don't like to be braced at the end of the day."

Although the third game of the exhibition schedule is considered the most important for teams as they prepare for the regular season, it seems likely the Vikings will err on the side of caution and start veteran Gus Frerotte against the Steelers. No matter what happens with Jackson, Childress won't alter his plan to play the starters for an extended period.

"We really don't hold back anything depending on what quarterback it is," Childress said. "In fact we had a plan in place where we'd play [the first-team] guys through the half and we were talking about the fact that Gus needed some snaps with the [first team].

"I know it's easy for me to say after Tarvaris gets hurt but [Frerotte] needed some snaps as opposed to having the [second team] offensive line and the [second team] wide receivers to throw to. So we actually were going to bring him out after the half with the [starters] in this game. Perhaps he'll get a chance to start. We'll just have to see."

Tight end Garrett Mills saw another specialist Tuesday after continuing to be bothered by an ankle injury suffered early in training camp. Mills has yet to play in a preseason game.

"He's had about every test that we know of and the doctors know of," Childress said. "It's just he's uncomfortable with sticking [the foot] in the ground and breaking. Straight ahead stuff is OK. It's not a deal where two weeks rest has made the difference. ... We feel like we're treating it right, it's just a matter of it settling down. Everybody heals different."

• Wide receiver Bernard Berrian did some work Tuesday but continues to be hampered by a sore toe on his right foot. Berrian sat out the Baltimore game, and it's unclear if he will be able to play Saturday.

"It's tender, so he's mixing the treatment with the football and doing what he can do," Childress said.

• Receiver Sidney Rice (virus) and rookie center John Sullivan (concussion) both sat out a second consecutive practice. Backup right tackle Marcus Johnson (right knee) returned after being injured in the preseason opener.

• Veteran Ryan Longwell, who has yet to kick in either of the first two exhibition games, said the plan is for him to handle those duties Saturday night and probably in the preseason finale against Dallas on Aug. 28. The Vikings are trying to keep the veteran fresh as possible. Longwell did not do any kicking off until Monday's practice.