Hicks says new role is matter of getting settled

Artis Hicks avoided talking publicly about his temporary move to left tackle, but the Vikings lineman didn't seem too concerned Thursday when he finally discussed his new role while Bryant McKinnie serves a four-game suspension.

"This definitely isn't my first time out," he said. "I've played tackle before. Everybody knows that. It's just a matter of getting back in that comfort zone again and trying to play at a high level."

Hicks moved from left guard after the NFL suspended McKinnie for violating the league's personal conduct policy, but the seven-year veteran doesn't anticipate a difficult adjustment.

Hicks has made four of his 49 career starts at left tackle. He filled in at left tackle against Green Bay last season as McKinnie battled food poisoning.

"It's not that big of an adjustment," Hicks said. "The biggest thing is guys are a little bit faster out there, a little more athletic."

Hicks' four-game stint won't be easy. The defensive ends he could face -- Green Bay's Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney, Carolina's Julius Peppers and Tennessee's Kyle Vanden Bosch -- have combined for 225 career sacks.

"I know who we have on the schedule," Hicks said. "But I haven't really started focusing on anybody except for [Green Bay starter Cullen] Jenkins and KGB. That's pretty much it because those guys are some of the premier defensive ends in the league.

"As an offensive lineman you have to be prepared to maybe slide over and play another spot. You want to be a good run blocker, good pass blocker. But you also want to be versatile in case a situation like this comes up."

Hicks' teammates have downplayed the position switch, saying they have confident Hicks can handle himself.

"That's not as big as everybody thinks," left guard Steve Hutchinson said. "People are trying make a story out of that. This is nothing new for him to go out there and play left tackle."