About the Vikings
The Vikings should play many of their starters at least one quarter after most of them had brief cameos in a preseason-opening 27-13 loss to Houston last week. … Coach Leslie Frazier said RB Adrian Peterson will play in one of the next two games (either Friday or Aug. 25 at San Francisco), but it's likely to be in the latter, which is a nationally televised game. … The Vikings beat the Bills last preseason 36-14 as LB Audie Cole had two fourth-quarter interception returns for TDs. … There are intriguing battles on the team for backup positions, especially at wide receiver and linebacker. … Frazier said Marcus Sherels, Jarius Wright, Stephen Burton and Bobby Felder would get chances to return punts. … After getting only two snaps last week, QB Christian Ponder should have a chance to work with his offense a bit longer. Ponder threw two passes, a completion to Jerome Simpson and an interception, before Matt Cassel took over and went 12-for-19 for 212 yards, a TD and an interception. … FB Jerome Felton (appendix), LB Jacob Lacey (knee) and DT Christian Ballard (excused for personal reasons) are out.
About the Bills
The Bills tried to revitalize their offense in the draft by taking Florida State QB EJ Manuel 16th overall, then plucking dynamic receivers Robert Woods (USC) in the second round and Marquise Goodwin (Texas) in the third. … Manuel completed 16 of 21 for 107 yards in last week's 44-20 victory over the Colts in Buffalo's preseason opener. … New coach Doug Marrone, who was at Syracuse the past four seasons, said Kevin Kolb will start tonight at QB. Kolb would have started against Indianapolis but suffered a knee injury when he slipped on a rubber mat. … RB C.J. Spiller will be a workhorse after rushing for 1,244 yards last season and catching 43 passes. … Goodwin, who finished 10th in the long jump at the 2012 Olympics, had a 107-yard kickoff return for a TD against Indy. He also had a 53-yard return. … Starting WRs Stevie Johnson and T.J. Graham are both out because of knee injuries. … Star DE Mario Williams will see only limited snaps, if he plays at all. … Standout FS Jairus Byrd has not reported to camp after getting the franchise tag instead of a long-term contract.
CHRIS MILLER
