Harvin's ankle better, but he misses practice

Percy Harvin wanted to practice Wednesday as the Vikings prepared for their Sunday game in Chicago but was held out as he tries to recover from a severely sprained left ankle.

"It's still a little stiff in certain areas," Harvin said. "A little swelling. It's just not major swelling. So it's to the point now where I feel like I can do a little something."

Harvin sprained his ankle in the third quarter of the Vikings' 30-20 loss in Seattle on Nov. 4. He missed the following week's game against Detroit, then spent big chunks of his bye week in the Winter Park training room, working with the team medical staff to get his ankle into shape as quickly as possible.

Harvin said he spent time in the pool, iced the ankle often and used electrical stimulation.

"We ran through pretty much every machine I think we had in here," Harvin said. "So we got in it pretty good. I'm still on the same rehab schedule. Everything's looking good."

Guard Charlie Johnson (toe) also did not practice Wednesday. Defensive tackle LeTroy Guion (foot), receiver Michael Jenkins (foot) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (knee) were limited.

An MRI revealed no structural damage or major issue with Jenkins' sore foot.

"He was so relieved when he got that news," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Because the pain was excruciating for a while. But with the treatment he's getting, he's feeling much better."

The Bears did not practice, but they issued an injury report. Quarterbacks Jay Cutler (concussion) and Jason Campbell (ribs) were listed as players who would have had limited participation.

Rotation continues Brandon Fusco will make his 11th consecutive start at right guard but will again share time with Geoff Schwartz.

The rotation at guard began in Week 6. Fusco has been OK at times but hesitant at others, leaving an opening for Schwartz to step in. Frazier sees no reason to stray from that rotation just yet.

"As long as it's helping the both of them and helping our team, then we'll continue to do it," Frazier said. "And so far it's been good for both. Hopefully that'll continue. The times we've done it, it's been a positive."

Bittersweet holiday

Vikings backup defensive end Everson Griffen, who has four sacks this season, faces his first Thanksgiving without his mother. Sabrina Scott passed away in early October while visiting her son in Minnesota.

"I'm just thankful for having had a strong woman like that in my life to come as far as I have," Griffen said. "I'm thankful for my fiancée and my child on the way, and thankful to have family like that to keep me going.

"My mom, she's right here with me, right now," said Griffen, whose child is due Jan. 27. "With her guidance, it's just going to make [Thanksgiving] all that much easier, and with all the support I got from the guys on the team when all that happened, it was fantastic."

Etc. • One of owner Zygi Wilf's four children, son Jonathan, has been named the team's vice president of strategic planning and business initiatives.

Jonathan Wilf, a law school graduate, will be part of the stadium development team and also work on technology issues and revenue- generating ideas for the new stadium.