Peterson, Ponder both practice (sort of)

The Vikings' face of the franchise and their franchise quarterback both practiced Friday, albeit on a limited basis that has them listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Detroit.

Running back Adrian Peterson came off the field with a slight limp from the soreness of practicing on consecutive days after missing the past two games because of a high left ankle sprain. Meanwhile, Christian Ponder worked behind Joe Webb in what was Ponder's first practice since suffering a right hip pointer in last week's loss to Denver.

Both players said that taking a pain-killing shot before the game is an option they would embrace. The team might not be willing to go that far, choosing a more conservative approach to protect two of its most important players during what has become a 2-10 season.

Peterson said he's "probably 80 percent" and will be "pushing to play" no matter how he feels when he wakes up Sunday morning. A year ago, he sprained an ankle at Washington and talked the coaches into letting him play the following week against Buffalo in a game-time decision by Frazier in his second game as interim coach. Peterson went on to rush for 106 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries in a Vikings victory.

Frazier said Peterson's input will "make a difference" Sunday but will be weighed against what the team feels is best for Peterson long-term. Frazier wants to see how the ankle responds overnight into Saturday, but the coach was encouraged by what he saw Friday.

"He was able to cut better," Frazier said. "He still has a little bit of a gait when he runs, but he was much better than he was [Thursday]."

Frazier said he wouldn't need to see Peterson work out again before the game to make a decision. That's not the case with Ponder since he's only practiced one day this week. A decision on Ponder might come down to a pregame workout at Ford Field.

Peterson admitted he looks at the traditional statistical benchmarks for running backs as motivation to return as quickly as possible. The five-year veteran needs 128 yards rushing for his fifth 1,000-yard season and 165 to move past Robert Smith's career franchise mark of 6,818 yards.

"I have team goals, and I have personal goals as well," Peterson said. "That's a mark I definitely want to reach, getting to 1,000 yards. If I play this week, it will come."

Ponder said he is confident he will be ready to go but isn't sure how effective he will be. He said the hip has gotten significantly better because the Vikings have put him through 11 hours of treatment on it each day this week.

Ponder also said the hip didn't prevent him from throwing the ball accurately Friday. Of course, he wasn't in full pads being chased by a Detroit Lions defense that's at home and in the playoff hunt.

"The good thing about Detroit is they don't bring a lot of pressure," Ponder said. "But if they got an injured quarterback back there, they might bring a lot of pressure."

If he plays, Ponder definitely will wear a hip pad. He wore hip pads throughout his career until he reached the NFL.

"You see all these NFL guys who don't wear pads," Ponder said. "I figured I'd just try to fit in. Bad idea."

• Receiver Percy Harvin, who tore a ligament in a finger Wednesday, was limited in Friday's practice and is listed as probable.