Hobbled Henderson's status unclear

Vikings middle linebacker E.J. Henderson dislocated a couple of toes on his left foot Sunday at Tennessee and was wearing a protective boot at Winter Park after having an MRI.

"We don't have any idea of his ongoing status until we're able to research that a little more with the doctors," coach Brad Childress said.

Henderson suffered the injury tackling Len-Dale White in the second quarter. Childress called it an "unusual" injury.

"He kind of posted on it and bent on it and was kind of bracing on it," Childress said. "Whatever happened, happened in there. He didn't have anybody fall on him or anything like that."

Henderson was carted to the locker room and returned later, but he did not finish the game. He declined interview requests afterward and was not available to reporters Monday.

David Herron filled in for Henderson and was credited with two tackles.

Left tackle Bryant McKinnie returned to the team after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

McKinnie, who met with Childress in the morning, was unavailable for comment. The Vikings requested a roster exemption for one week, meaning they won't have to make an immediate move to clear room for McKinnie.

"I had a good talk with [McKinnie] this morning," Childress said. "He looks to be in great shape and good spirits."

Childress reiterated that he hasn't made a decision on whether McKinnie will return as the starter. Childress praised the job Artis Hicks did while filling in for McKinnie, who still faces a possible trial on four charges stemming from a brawl outside a Miami nightclub.

"You want to look at [McKinnie's] conditioning and his stamina and those kind of things," Childress said. "But he looks like he's done a lot of work since he's been down there [in Miami] in the heat."

Safety Darren Sharper said he saw McKinnie in the building but did not get a chance to talk to him. "He looks good," Sharper said.

Quarterback Gus Frerotte suffered a cut on his left hand late in the fourth quarter that required two stitches. Childress said the amount of blood made it look worse than it was.

"I'm told it was a pretty good bleeder or it squirted," he said. "He's fine. He had to call his wife and make sure she knew he didn't have to have his hand cut off."

Childress said Monday that he had not talked to Mike Pereira, the NFL vice president of officiating, but it sounds like it's on his to-do list.

Childress was not happy with several calls Sunday, notably referee Peter Morelli's refusal to overturn a critical call in the second quarter.

On fourth-and-2 at the Vikings 3-yard line, Titans receiver Justin Gage appeared to come up short of a first down on a catch and also appeared to lose the ball before the whistle. However, the play was ruled dead and the officials spotted the ball inside the 1 for a first down.

Childress called a timeout and then challenged the play. Morelli upheld the ruling after the review. Tennessee scored on the next play for a 20-7 lead.

"I have not had a chance to speak to them just yet," Childress said. "We haven't sent in our hit list, if you will."

Asked later about a few costly holding penalties, Childress said: "I probably differ with a couple of those costly holdings. I believe that you have to see the whole play is what I'm told."

Trailing by 13 points with two minutes left, Childress opted to punt on fourth-and-13 from his own 18-yard line rather than go for it.

"Based on the way we were playing defense I thought we'd have a chance to get it back," he said.

The Titans ran out the clock with three kneel-downs.