That pesky hip pointer is still bothering Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder. The rookie is once again absent from practice this afternoon. And while Ponder said Wednesday he fully expects to play this weekend in Detroit, you can only wonder how limited he will be. Don't forget that part of what makes Ponder dangerous is his ability to make plays on the move. And if his hip continues to be a significant bother, that could greatly hinder a Vikings offense that will need all the spark it can get Sunday.
This morning, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave expressed concern about Ponder's injury.
"He didn't look too good walking [Wednesday]," Musgrave said.
Disconcerting?
"It is," Musgrave responded. "Even for quarterbacks who aren't as good of runners, the quarterbacks I've been around in my experience, it's tougher to play when you're hurt from the waist down than hurt from the waist up. When you throw, it starts with your foundation and the rhythm and tempo that's established with your footwork. So you can get by more readily with a jammed finger or sore elbow or sprained shoulder than you can with something that happened down there on your foundation."
In other injury news, running back Adrian Peterson is back on the practice field for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain against Oakland three weeks ago. That's encouraging. More on his status will be coming at the conclusion of practice when Leslie Frazier speaks with reporters.
Left guard Steve Hutchinson and defensive end Brian Robison are also back at practice today. Hutchinson sat out Wednesday with an illness. Robison was still recovering from a concussion.
