Vikings notes: Cassel confirmed as Sunday starter

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier finally said publicly what everyone has been expecting him to say since Matt Cassel led the Vikings to a turnover-free 34-27 victory over the Steelers in London back on Sept. 29:

"Matt Cassel is going to be our starting quarterback on Sunday."

As for the future beyond Sunday, well, stay tuned.

"I think we need to sit back on Monday after the game and evaluate things and see where we are," Frazier said. "See how it goes."

Although it was a long-anticipated decision, it wasn't an easy one, Frazier said. Naming Cassel the starter ahead of a now-healthy Christian Ponder, along with signing former Bucs QB Josh Freeman on Monday, has serious ramifications for the future of a guy — Ponder — who three weeks ago still was considered the team's quarterback of the future.

"I think it's always tough when you make a change at quarterback," Frazier said. "You have to take a lot of factors into it when you're doing that. You don't make those decisions lightly, and we didn't. We'll see how it plays out. But this is the start of this ballgame. We'll see how Matt does. But we'll see how it plays out over time."

Ponder, who missed the Steelers game because of a fractured rib, will back up Cassel on Sunday against the Panthers. As for Freeman, Frazier said, "We have not decided at this point what we're going to do with Josh. We don't see him being able to play this ballgame yet, based on where we are and where he is with our offense." In that case, Freeman would be a game-day inactive.

Cassel said he was anticipating that he would start and was preparing as if he would. But he said he didn't know for sure until Friday morning, although he did get the majority of reps in practice this week.

"You never know in this league," Cassel said. "I wouldn't have guessed on Monday we'd have another quarterback in the room as well. You never know what's going to happen. But at the same time it's always about getting myself prepared and being accountable to my teammates, getting ready to go."

Cassel said he's not looking beyond Sunday's game.

"It's just one more opportunity," he said. "[Against Pittsburgh], we took a great approach and the guys came out and responded well. We all responded well. We played well as a team and hopefully we can build off that."

Kicker Blair Walsh, who experienced tightness in his left hamstring while practicing kickoffs Thursday, is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.

If Walsh were unable to play, punter Jeff Locke could handle kickoffs and placekicking. The team also has a short list of kickers they could sign if it turns out Saturday that Walsh wasn't able to play.

Cornerback Chris Cook (groin) and strong safety Jamarca Sanford (hamstring) will return after missing the Steelers game. Tight end Rhett Ellison, who missed the past two games because of a knee injury, also is expected to play.