Opposing tight ends giving defense fits

Vikings opponents clearly have felt comfortable throwing the ball to their tight ends this season. In five games, an opposing tight end has either led his team or been tied for the team lead in receptions on four occasions.

That might not stop Sunday when the Vikings go against Todd Heap, who is second on the Ravens with 21 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

"I expect to see him a good bit," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "He is a good player. He doesn't have to play standing next to a tackle. They can open him up. They also have L.J. Smith there from Philadelphia. ... I'm sure we'll see a good diet of those guys. They both have way above-average receiving skills, too."

In the Vikings' 38-10 victory over St. Louis on Sunday, Rams tight end Daniel Fells tied for the team lead with five receptions for 45 yards and combined with Randy McMichael to catch eight passes for 90 yards. In Week 3, San Francisco's Vernon Davis had seven receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns and the following week Green Bay's Jermichael Finley had six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.

Asked about the success opposing tight ends are having, Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said, "[It's] just different scenarios and different situations. I think there are times where we are taking away certain things and we say, 'This tight end can't beat us,' but that's not the case this week. This is a very good tight end, and we will have to be well aware of him for sure."

Wide receiver Percy Harvin (left shoulder) was limited in Thursday's practice after being held out Wednesday. "He moved around and did most everything," Childress said. "Hopefully he takes another step [today]."

Also limited for the Vikings were right tackle Phil Loadholt (ankle), left guard Steve Hutchinson (back), defensive end Ray Edwards (hamstring), wide receiver Darius Reynaud (hamstring) and fullback Naufahu Tahi (ankle). Loadholt, who missed Sunday's game at St. Louis, said he's day-to-day.

For the Ravens, left tackle Jared Gaither (neck) did not practice for a second consecutive day and likely again will be replaced by rookie Michael Oher.

Artis Hicks, who started at right tackle in place of Loadholt in St. Louis, said the NFL fined him $5,000 for the third-quarter hit that resulted in Rams defensive tackle Gary Gibson suffering a broken ankle, an injury that will end his season.

Gibson was engaged with Vikings right guard Anthony Herrera when quarterback Brett Favre delivered what turned into a 47-yard completion to Sidney Rice. Hicks then shoved Gibson, who twisted awkwardly. No penalty was called.

Hicks was surprised to be fined.

"I didn't really think it was late or cheap," he said. "I know [a fine] is always a possibility because they are trying to crack down on some stuff like that, but I still didn't think I'd get fined."

Chris Myers, who was doing play-by-play of the game on Fox, called the hit "cheap."

"A lot of times you might not understand offensive line play," Hicks said, "but I didn't set out to hurt the guy or anybody. You just set out to try to do the best [you can], being physical up front and do the best to block guys and set a physical tempo. I didn't feel like it was cheap. It was unfortunate the guy got hurt."