Frazier hasn't spoken to Ballard in a week

Coach Leslie Frazier has not spoken to Christian Ballard in a week and is now assuming the backup defensive tackle will not play this season.

"I think you have to approach it that way," Frazier said today. "We have to get these guys ready to play who are here. They're practicing every day and we're moving forward."

Frazier said there is nothing new from their conversation a week ago. Ballard left the team for personal reasons during training camp and remains on the active/left squad reserve list.

"If he decides he wants to come back [to the NFL], he has to go through us," Frazier said.

Frazier texts Winfield: Frazier said he hasn't spoken to recently retired Antoine Winfield, but he did text the former Vikings cornerback to "try and encourage him."

Asked if he thinks Winfield is 100 percent committed to retirement, Frazier said, "I have no idea. We haven't spoken so I really don't have any idea."

One thing is clear. Unlike former Vikings coach Brad Childress, who flew Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson and Ryan Longwell to Mississippi to talk Brett Favre out of retirement in 2010, Frazier does not believe in twisting a guy's arm to return to the field.

Frazier said he'll be there to help Winfield in any way he'd like.

"Just to encourage him to be what he wants to be," Frazier said. "If it's retirement, good luck in retirement. If you ever want to talk, let's talk about taking that next step after your career ends because it's a big difference going from playing for 15 years almost to going back to being just a regular citizen. It's a transition and a lot of players struggle with that transition."