Hicks misses another day of practice

Right tackle Artis Hicks missed a second consecutive day of practice Thursday because of a right elbow injury, and his status for Sunday night's game against the Chicago Bears remains uncertain.

Hicks was the only Vikings player not to practice Thursday, according to the team's injury report. Coach Brad Childress and Hicks were not available to comment because the Vikings did not have media availability on Thanksgiving Day. The Vikings will be required to list Hicks as out, doubtful, questionable or probable today.

Hicks started his fifth game of the season and first at right tackle ever Sunday as he took over for struggling Ryan Cook in the Vikings' 30-12 victory at Jacksonville.

Hicks had replaced left tackle Bryant McKinnie for the first four games while he was serving a suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He originally hurt his right elbow in the regular-season opener at Green Bay.

Hicks left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter after appearing to aggravate the problem and was replaced by Cook. Hicks had a brace on the elbow Wednesday. Childress indicated Wednesday that Cook will move back into the starting role if Hicks can't go.

Marcus Johnson, a second-round selection in 2005 and the lone remaining player from the Vikings' draft class that year, also has started at right tackle, but he has no starts this season and has been inactive for the past seven weeks.

The Bears have been delighted with rookie Matt Forte, who has rushed for 909 yards and caught 45 passes for another 336 yards. Forte leads the Bears with six rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns and could become the fourth NFL rookie since Gale Sayers for the Bears in 1965 to lead his team in both categories. The others were Clark Gaines of the Jets in 1976 and Mike Alstott of the Bucs in 1996.

Forte, the 44th overall (second round) pick out of Tulane, might be the find of this year's draft.

"[He] can do it all," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "Catch the ball out of the backfield, run with power, make you miss, speed to go the distance. We're very pleased with what we have in Matt Forte."

• The Vikings added rookie defensive tackle Letroy Guion to their injury report Thursday because of an ankle injury that forced him to miss practice. Defensive end Jared Allen (shoulder), linebackers Vinny Ciurciu (hand) and David Herron (shoulder), tight end Garrett Mills (ankle) and safety Madieu Williams (shoulder) were limited.

• Wide receiver Devin Hester did not practice for the Bears but the reason listed was rest. Wide receiver Marty Booker (knee), safety Mike Brown (calf), tight end Desmond Clark (knee), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (rest) and linebacker Jamar Williams (groin) were all limited a day after not participating.

• The Bears returned 250 tickets for Sunday night's game. They can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 651-989-5151.

• Forte and the Vikings' Adrian Peterson rank second and third, respectively, in the NFL in highest percentage of their team's yards from scrimmage. Forte, who has 1,245 of his team's 3,585 scrimmage yards, is at 34.73 percent. Peterson, with 1,275 yards, is at 34.33 percent. Washington's Clinton Portis leads the league at 34.99 percent.

• The Vikings' Ben Leber and the Bears' Lance Briggs are tied for the NFL lead in takeways (five) by linebackers this season. Leber has four fumble recoveries (which leads the NFL) and one interception. Briggs has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Staff writer Chip Scoggins contributed to this notebook.