Winfield is doubtful, but reports progress

Antoine Winfield said he made significant progress in practice this week, but the Vikings cornerback was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Seattle because of a right foot injury.

Winfield said his foot felt good after Friday's workout. In particular, Winfield said he experienced no pain when planting and making a cut, something that gave him problems last week.

Winfield has missed three-plus games after injuring his foot Oct. 18 against Baltimore.

"I'll get out there and do some work Sunday morning and see how it feels [before the game]," Winfield said. "If it's good, I'll be out there. Game-time decision."

The Vikings might be thin at cornerback. Karl Paymah (ankle) is questionable. Benny Sapp left last week's game because of a groin injury, but he is listed as probable.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said the number of missed tackles during the first half of the season was a concern and a point of emphasis coming out of the bye. He saw significant improvement in that area against the Lions last week.

"Big time, big time," he said. "They threw the ball 51 times on Sunday, and they averaged like 3.8 yards per catch and that is huge. That means you are doing a good job with yards after the catch. For that number to be where it was shows that we did a better job of tackling, a better job of people getting to the ball. Now we just have to keep it going."

The Vikings have faced a handful of 3-4 defenses this season that use a variety of fronts and blitz packages. Running back Adrian Peterson said there's nothing overly complicated about Seattle's defense.

"They are real basic," he said. "They play a basic defense. There is one thing that stands out about their defense and that is their down linemen. The down linemen are playing extremely well, fast guys. Their linebackers are also playing fast and playing good, too. We have to make sure we come in prepared."

• Receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring) is questionable. Backup defensive end Jayme Mitchell missed Friday's practice because of illness.

• Detroit linebacker Julian Peterson received a $7,500 fine from the NFL for hitting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson in the head in the fourth quarter last week. Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was fined $5,000 for a late hit on linebacker Chad Greenway.

• Seattle cornerback Josh Wilson (concussion) is doubtful. Kelly Jennings will start at right corner if Wilson can't play. The Seahawks' other starting corner, Marcus Trufant, is also dealing with a concussion but is probable.

• Former Vikings receiver Nate Burleson is second on Seattle with 45 catches for 562 yards and three touchdowns but was held without a catch last Sunday against Arizona.