Jackson tries downplaying latest knee issue

MANKATO - Tarvaris Jackson dropped back to pass and felt something pop in his left knee as he stepped up in the pocket.

Already wearing a brace after suffering a sprained left knee early in camp, Jackson had even more cause for concern Friday night in the Vikings' full-pads practice at Blakeslee Stadium. "I felt something very uncomfortable," he said.

Jackson limped to the sideline, where he was checked out by head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman. Jackson missed only one play before returning, but he overthrew wide receiver Darius Reynaud on the next play and was intercepted by safety Eric Frampton.

Jackson seemed to favor his knee the rest of the practice, but he said afterward that his knee felt fine.

"I just felt something pop for a quick second," he said. "But after I walked to the sideline it was pretty much OK. It's fine."

The play happened during an 11-on-11 period. Defensive end Jayme Mitchell beat right tackle Ryan Cook off the edge and forced Jackson to step up in the pocket. He stepped awkwardly and then limped off after the play.

Jackson still was not 100 percent after suffering a Grade 1 sprain of his MCL. However, he didn't seem too concerned that Friday's scare will cause any setback.

"I just tried to hurry and step up in the pocket," Jackson said. "I guess I moved too fast. My leg kind of got caught and popped.

"I guess I wasn't ready for that right now. But it's fine. It's not bothering me. It was just something awkward for me. I think it was just some scar tissue."

Jackson and Sage Rosenfels continued to split reps with the first-team offense as their competition officially entered the second week. Both did some good things early in practice, but Rosenfels had a stronger overall performance in the team's second full-pads practice of training camp.

"Every practice I feel like I'm thinking less and just playing," Rosenfels said.

Coach Brad Childress declined to handicap his quarterback competition after one full week. "I'm not slapping a grade on it," he said. "Obviously, [Jackson] had missed time, so it wouldn't be fair to sit there and say, 'This guy is ahead by virtue of the fact he had five more practices.' It's a good competition and it's all headed toward a cumulative work here during practice and then I want to watch them compete with the lights on."

Rosenfels said he's also not focused on where things stand in the competition.

"I'm not looking at that at all," he said. "That's not for me to judge. That's for head coaches and coordinators and general managers. My job is to lead the offense and do the best job I can executing Coach Childress' offense."

The quarterbacks faced tough situations late in Friday's practice. The offense started one drill at its own 1-yard line, and it also worked on third-and-11 situations. Predictably, the defense got the upper hand in those situations.

"We just have to finish," Jackson said. "Third-and-long is a tough situation, but we still have to convert our share."