NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Mistral Raymond's decision to attempt to return an interception he made Thursday to end training camp has proven to be a costly one.
The free safety is among seven players the Vikings have scratched for tonight's preseason opener against the Titans at LP Field. Coach Leslie Frazier said after the practice Thursday that Raymond had tweaked his hamstring and clearly the team isn't going to take a chance with putting him on the field and doing further damage.
On the play in which Raymond was injured, he picked off a pass from fellow rookie Christian Ponder in the end zone and decided it would be fun to return the ball down the right sideline. Raymond raced down the side, as Joe Webb gave chase despite not being on the field when the play was made, and but at the end of his run the safety pulled up.
Raymond, a sixth-round pick from South Florida, received valuable first-team reps last Wednesday and Thursday as Husain Abdullah attended President Barack Obama's Iftar dinner that celebrates Ramadan at the White House.
The other scratches for the Vikings are no surprise. Cornerback Cedric Griffin (ACL), tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring), linebacker Kenny Onatolu (foot) and right guard Anthony Herrera (ACL) won't play. Herrera remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Griffin has been going full speed in practice but the Vikings are being cautious with a player who has torn the ACL in both knees in the past two seasons. Griffin might make his exhibition debut next Saturday at Seattle. Asher Allen will start in his place at right cornerback tonight. Jim Kleinsasser will start at tight end in place of Shiancoe.
Also scratched are running back Tristan Davis and rookie wide receiver Stephen Burton, who has struggled so far in camp.
Titans scratch six: Holdout running back Chris Johnson is among six Titans who have been scratched for tonight's game. Also sitting out will be wide receiver Kenny Britt, safeties Robert Johnson and Nick Schommer, long snapper/linebacker John Stokes and defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks.
