Finale is a last audition for players on bubble

Vikings coach Brad Childress didn't even attempt to be coy about his plans for Thursday's preseason finale at Dallas. Childress said Tuesday that none of his starters will play, and neither will backup quarterback Gus Frerotte.

With a few roster spots still up for grabs, Childress said the coaching staff wants to take a longer look at the backups who are fighting to make the 53-man roster.

"We just want to make sure those guys are given a chance to put their best foot forward," he said.

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will miss his second consecutive game after suffering a sprained MCL in his right knee against Baltimore. That means Jackson will have a 22-day layoff between the Baltimore game and the Sept. 8 season opener at Green Bay.

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian has played even less. Berrian has played only three series total after a toe injury flared up during the preseason opener against Seattle.

The tradeoff in resting the starters is that the coaching staff will get one last look at the backups before making the final cuts by 5 p.m. Saturday. Childress said it's possible for a player to win a roster spot by performing well in the final game.

"I've seen guys step forward and you say, 'Hey we can't deny that guy. That guy has given a great account of himself,' " Childress said. "That's all they want. They just want an opportunity to be able to show, as long as they've been given a chance."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips likely will take the same approach, according to the Dallas Morning News. Phillips wasn't as forthcoming as Childress, but the paper said it's highly unlikely that many Dallas starters will play.

Frerotte did not practice Tuesday; Childress said he gave him the day off. As a result, Brooks Bollinger and rookie John David Booty got extra reps in practice again as they compete for the No. 3 job.

Childress said Bollinger and Booty will play one half each Thursday, although he said he hasn't decided which one will start.

"I'm not sure if we're down to a coin flip," he joked. "We may play rock, paper, scissors for it."

Childress said their competition is no different than any other position where backups are trying to separate themselves in the final game.

"Obviously they want to give a good accounting of themselves whether they are handing it off or whether they are making a play on a naked or a screen or a drop-back pass," he said. "I just want to see where they are with our system."

Booty said he has gradually felt more comfortable with the system, especially being able to get more reps the past few days. He said he has not become too discouraged by typical rookie struggles.

"It's hard to come right in and get thrown out there and you're awesome," Booty said. "Nobody really does that, unless you're Adrian [Peterson], who is a freak of nature. With the quarterback position there is so much going on and so much you have to know.

"I think I can get so much better. I definitely feel good about what I've done. I'm not satisfied or content with the way things have gone. But it's a great opportunity for me to be around these coaches and learn from them and the quarterbacks."

Former Gophers football coach Murray Warmath, 95, visited Winter Park and watched practice.

"He's unbelievable," Childress said. "He's still bright-eyed and likes getting around the offensive and defensive linemen."

Childress said defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, an LSU graduate, mentioned to Warmath that he was wearing a Gophers hat instead of a Tennessee hat, which is where he played college football.

"Yep, those are the last people that paid me," Warmath said.

• Wide receiver Robert Ferguson missed his second consecutive day of practice because of a calf injury.