Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder will not play in tonight's playoff game against the Packers, officially declared inactive due to trouble with his right elbow. Ponder banged the elbow of his throwing arm hard on a defender's helmet in the first half of last week's home win over Green Bay and the injury gradually got worse after that game finished.
Ponder was limited in practice this week and was officially listed on the injury report Friday as questionable. The Vikings had hoped he would be able to battle through the pain and even took Ponder to the stadium early Saturday afternoon with fellow quarterback Joe Webb and McLeod Bethel-Thompson to test the elbow out.
Ultimately, it appears, the stiffness and pain in Ponder's elbow was too much, meaning Webb will be the starter in the Vikings' first playoff game in nearly three years.
As if anything else matters, the Vikings' other inactives tonight are: Tyrone McKenzie, Stephen Burton, Troy Kropog, D'Aundre Reed, Brandon Burton and George Johnson.
