Want to stop Allen? Poke him in the eye

Jared Allen is on the Vikings' injury report with a seriously bloodshot right eye that he says "unfortunately didn't come from doing anything cool."

No. A finger in the eye is so not cool. Especially when it costs the NFL sacks leader another QB mauling, which happened Sunday when Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb inadvertently stuck a finger in Allen's eye while trying to stiff-arm his way out of a sack.

"I learned something about myself," Allen said. "If I get poked in the eye, I will give up. So I'm going to have to work on that, I guess. ... I had the sack in my arms and he poked me in the eye ... and I let go. That was the end for me."

Actually, this could be the beginning of something historic for Allen. His 8 1/2 sacks are a career high through five games and match the five-game total for former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan in 2004, the year he set the NFL season record of 22 1/2.

Allen hasn't missed any practice time because of the eye injury. He said his vision is fine and that he hopes he doesn't have to wear a protective visor, "but if the doctors have their way with it, I probably have to."

Harvin, Winfield sit Receiver Percy Harvin missed Thursday's practice for mostly precautionary reasons after X-rays ruled out cracked ribs. Meanwhile, cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) missed another practice. There's nothing structurally wrong with Winfield's neck, but coach Leslie Frazier said he would like to see Winfield practice at least on a limited basis Friday to consider playing him in Chicago on Sunday night.

"We do have to rely in large part on what [Winfield] says," Frazier said. "The tests that we've run are as positive as we can get. So you have to kind of wait and see how he feels. ... He's been good at communicating where he is."

Bears could switch safeties The Bears reportedly will replace their starting safeties for Sunday's game, with Major Wright taking over at strong safety for Chris Harris and rookie Chris Conte at free safety for Brandon Meriweather. Wright and Conte worked with the first team at practice Thursday, and Harris told reporters afterward he didn't expect to start. Wright has three career starts, Conte none.

Among the Bears' injured players, defensive end Julius Peppers missed his second practice in a row because of a sprained knee. Cornerback Charles Tillman (hip), who was limited Wednesday, did not practice Thursday. And receiver Earl Bennett (chest) went from not practicing Wednesday to being limited Thursday.

Nightmare returns New special teams coach Mike Priefer was asked if he remembers facing Bears return specialist Devin Hester.

"I do, and I don't want to talk about it," Priefer said. "It was not a good day for me. That was a nightmare for about three months."

Priefer was Chiefs special teams coach in 2007. The Bears won 20-10 as Hester returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown, another one 31 yards to set up a field goal and a third one 24 yards late in the game. He also had a 95-yard kickoff return for a TD nullified by penalty.

Hester has a 23.4-yard average on 12 kickoff returns and a 20.2 average with one touchdown on five punt returns. The Vikings are giving up 21.4 yards per kickoff return and 12.4 yards per punt return.

"I will let you know that we're going to change our game plan a little bit from what we've been doing," Priefer said. "We have to do that, he's that good. I don't think I can stand up here and tell you we're going to go status quo against Devin Hester. That's not going to happen."

Etc. • Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave on the blocking skills of the 185-pound Harvin, who won a game ball for the way he blocked Sunday: "He's one tough sucker."

• Musgrave on right tackle Phil Loadholt's performance against the Cardinals: "I thought Phil's technique was the best it had been all year."