vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Greenway: Friday's strong effort from first-unit defense should taken 'with a grain of salt'
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Off the field, Vikings, Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway Updated: August 19, 2012 - 6:00 PM
The Vikings just wrapped up a light practice at Winter Park and are still trying to assess Friday night's 36-14 preseason win over Buffalo.
With two preseason games left, the team still wants to see more from middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley. There's also the possibility that star running back Adrian Peterson will play some this Friday against San Diego.
Here are a handful of other notes from Sunday's availability ...
'A step in the right direction'
Chad Greenway was encouraged by the effort of the first unit defense in Friday’s 36-14 preseason win over Buffalo. On two first-quarter possessions, the Vikings allowed only 11 yards and one first down, getting off the field quickly both times. But just as it was premature to panic after the Vikings allowed 260 rushing yards in a preseason loss in San Francisco a week earlier, Greenway wasn’t about to assert that the Vikings’ defense is now suddenly in top form.
“You take it with a grain of salt,” he said. “Obviously it’s not a full game and you’re not going to see all of their best looks. And we didn’t put our best stuff at them either. So it’s a snippet of where we’re at, nothing more than that. I don’t think we take too much out of that game other than that it was definitely a step in the right direction.”
Smith, Raymond now the starters at safety
The Vikings are almost certain to start rookie Harrison Smith and second-year defensive back Mistral Raymond together at safety against the Chargers. Raymond played well in Friday night’s win over Buffalo and has earned the right to assume more responsibility over Jamarca Sanford until further notice.
So get ready for the Smith-Raymond pair to be more permanent.
“We want to look at that tandem again and see how they progress,” Frazier said. “We’ll still work Jamarca in there. But as we speak we’ll want to go with those two to begin.”
Injury update
Among the notable absences from Sunday’s practice: tight ends John Carlson and Kyle Rudolph and cornerback Chris Cook. Carlson is still not ready to return to practice as he continues nursing a knee sprain that he suffered in practice July 31.
Rudolph and Cook both suffered blows to the head in Friday’s game against Buffalo and are currently being evaluated for concussion-like symptoms.
In other injury news, nose tackle Letroy Guion, who suffered a knee injury in an Aug. 10 loss at San Francisco, is making good progress and should be ready to play again this week against the Chargers. Same goes for safety Robert Blanton (hamstring), running back Jordan Todman (ankle) and offensive tackle DeMarcus Love (pectoral).
Others who missed Sunday’s practice: linebacker Solomon Elimimian (hamstring); fullback Matt Asiata (personal reasons); and Kamar Jorden (hand).
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