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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012.

Dream scenario (9-7): Quarterback Christian Ponder makes a big leap in his second season, spurred in part by confidence in his new offensive line. Ponder makes good use of his two pass-catching tight ends, Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson, and either Jerome Simpson or Greg Childs provides a legitimate downfield threat. Tailback Adrian Peterson (knee) is back to full strength early in the season, if not in Week 1. The Vikings get a big return on overhauling the middle of their defense and aren't hindered by starting one rookie safety (Harrison Smith) and perhaps two (with Robert Blanton). In a tough division, they're thrilled to finish with a winning record.

Nightmare scenario (3-13): The Vikings show no improvement from 2011, giving them a three-year record of 12-36. Ponder's inconsistency raises questions about his future with the franchise. Peterson returns but isn't a dominant runner any longer. The defense implodes because of its inexperience and lack of playmakers in the back end. It's clear the franchise has another year or more to go before matching the rest of the division.

Have the Minnesota Vikings put quarterback Christian Ponder in position to succeed in 2012?

Ponder finished his rookie season with a series of injuries and poor decisions, playing behind a patchwork offensive line and with a limited set of weapons in the passing game. The Vikings' short-term future is tied to Ponder's development, so here is what they did for him this offseason:

They drafted Matt Kalil to take over at left tackle, a move that allows Charlie Johnson to move to left guard and accomplishes a significant remake of the offensive line. They signed pass-catching tight end John Carlson to pair with another smooth pass-catcher, Kyle Rudolph, and signed athletic receiver Jerome Simpson, who will be eligible to play in Week 4. Finally, they drafted a pair of Arkansas receivers in Jarius Wright and Greg Childs.

The idea of having multiple tight end targets makes sense for a young quarterback, and Ponder should have more confidence this season in his backside protection. Percy Harvin and Simpson could pair up as a decent playmaking duo at receiver, but depth remains a question mark. Ponder will be in a better position than he was last season, but the talent around him could still be improved.

I'm not sure what it means, if anything, but the Minnesota Vikings have produced a unique draft quirk as we approach the final few rounds of the NFC North draft.

To this point, they have drafted three sets of college teammates among their first seven picks. Here's the rundown:

• USC: Left tackle Matt Kalil (No. 4 overall) and tight end/fullback Rhett Ellison (No. 128). Ellison told Minnesota reporters that he was stunned to be drafted.
• Notre Dame: Safety Harrison Smith (No. 29 overall) and cornerback Robert Blanton (No. 139).
• Arkansas: Receivers Jarius Wright (No. 118 overall) and Greg Childs (No. 134). Wright, and Childs, in fact, were high school teammates and grew up together in Arkansas.

The Notre Dame connection is especially notable when you consider the Vikings already have three former Irish players on their roster: Tight ends Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson, along with center John Sullivan.

Tweeted quarterback Christian Ponder: "I'm going to have to figure out how to deal with all of these golden domers."

Given how fluid this time of year is, I once again mined the mailbag for questions and topics that didn't figure to be impacted by breaking news over the weekend. You can get in touch with me via the mailbag, Twitter or our nearly full Facebook page.

Onward….

Mark of San Diego writes: I've seen several columnists comment on the high amount of drops Brandon Marshall has had in his career, but they all mention in almost the same breath how many targets he gets. Is there a chart someplace (like maybe a future blog post) that shows drops as a percent of targets?

Kevin Seifert: That's a good and fair question, Mark. Statistics are always more valuable when viewed in context, and it stands to reason that the more passes a player is thrown, the more likely he'll have a higher number of drops.

The raw number, according to ESPN Stats & Information, is that Marshall has dropped 26 passes since 2008, the third-highest total in the NFL over that stretch. I don't have his total targets over that stretch, but I can give you a glimpse into his drop percentage over the past two seasons and how that fits into the league rankings.

In 2010, Marshall had a drop percentage of 8.5, which ranked 60th in the NFL that season. That means 59 receivers caught a higher percentage of the catchable passes thrown their way.

In 2011, Marshall's drop percentage was 6.9, ranking him No. 52 in the league.

In this case, the percentage confirms what the raw numbers suggest. Marshall's drops weren't only a function of his high involvement in the Miami Dolphins offense. He missed more catchable passes than dozens of other NFL receivers.

To be clear, that shouldn't take away from Marshall's accomplishments as one of the league's most productive receivers over that period. The percentages merely give us a broader view of his performance.

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Matt of Appleton, Wis., is curious about the long-term salary cap implications of Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's new contract.

Kevin Seifert: Johnson signed what is technically an eight-year, $132 million deal. Deals that long often get restructured before the end, but usually teams at least leave the first three years intact before going back at it.

To that end, former agent Joel Corry provided a three-year cap breakdown for the National Football Post. The deal will count $11.5 million against the cap in 2012, $12.2 million in 2013 and $12.2 million in 2014, according to Corry.

It's never ideal to have a player count more than $10 million against the cap, especially in the case of the Lions, who have three players -- Johnson, quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh -- who will always have high cap numbers because they were top draft picks under the previous NFL system for rookie contracts.

But remember, Johnson was going to count $22 million this season against the cap, and if he received the franchise tag, $26.4 million in 2013 and $31 million in 2014. Considered that way, his new cap charges seem quite reasonable.

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Eric of Fariview Heights, Ill., isn't satisfied with our explanation for why the Minnesota Vikings didn't participate more actively in the opening days of free agency. Carl Nicks is 26 and probably if not absolutely is the best guard in the league. A five year deal helps Ponder and Peterson, neither of which are getting protected. Talks with an aged, twice injured TE is more important than a top WR signing? Explain! So we want Percy Harvin, John Carlson, and Kyle Rudolph clogging up the middle? Where is our deep threat? How can you write an article defending not going after Nicks, a top receiver, OR one of the top cornerbacks? I mean seeing how we've been HORRIBLE in the secondary... It's a joke. Let's hear the true talk on this inactivity please!?

Kevin Seifert: That's fair. First I'll give you a rundown of what I would guess the Vikings were thinking, and then I'll offer my own comments.

Six years ago, the Vikings signed Steve Hutchinson to the biggest contract for a guard in NFL history. Historically, however, NFL teams don't like to devote cap space to the guard position. There are too many instances of success when inserting younger, cheaper players into those jobs while spending your money on left tackle and center. Hutchinson, the Vikings thought then and now, was a once-in-a-generation player.

Rather than devoting $47.5 million to Nicks over the next five years, the Vikings figure they can move Charlie Johnson to left guard. Johnson signed a three-year, $10 million contract last summer. He might not perform to Nicks' level, but is the difference between Nicks and Johnson worth, say, twice or three times the salary cap space? The Vikings didn't think so.

The same goes for cornerback. The Vikings will get the promising Chris Cook back on the field in 2012, which is an automatic upgrade from what they finished with. I can only assume that they didn't think any of the cornerbacks available on the market, most notably Brandon Carr and Cortland Finnegan, were worth the $10 million annual salaries they eventually received.

As for Carlson, none of us can pretend to understand whether he is a risk for injury moving forward. Beyond that, the Vikings saw him as a polished 27-year-old pass-catcher who could make their offensive more dynamic. Does he solve all of their problems, including the deep threat issue? No. But that doesn't mean he can't help.

General manager Rick Spielman said last week that the team wasn't "one player away" from contending for the Super Bowl. That's one of the reasons the Vikings weren't more aggressive. A fair counterargument, of course, is this: What if they are? What if quarterback Christian Ponder develops quickly, and tailback Adrian Peterson returns to form and the offensive line improves with the presumed drafting of Matt Kalil?

In that case, the Vikings would be vulnerable in their otherwise unaddressed secondary, and a chance to have a better-than-expected season could be quashed. I'm fine with the Vikings sitting out the crazy receiver market. I do question if they're going to be able to field a competitive defensive secondary, but we'll withhold final judgment until the full players acquisition period is complete.

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Grayson of Roseville, Calif., writes: Why wouldn't the Packers have made a play for Mario Williams? I know they don't often do anything in free agency but Williams seems too good to pass up, like Reggie White and Charles Woodson were. It makes so much sense!

Kevin Seifert: It makes sense from the standpoint of the Packers needing a pass rusher (or two) and Williams is the best pass rusher on the market. Williams has more experience as a 4-3 end rather than a 3-4 outside linebacker, but perhaps the idea of playing opposite Clay Matthews -- and the presumably favorable matchups that would go with it -- might have been enough to lure him to the Packers.

But as we noted during the week, the Packers aren't really in position to start handing out $100 million contracts to free agents -- at least, not if they plan to re-sign a trio of players who are in line for extensions. Matthews, receiver Greg Jennings and quarterback Aaron Rodgers could have their deals addressed in the next calendar year. I'm guessing the Packers prioritized them over any free agent.

With that said, it doesn't mean the Packers couldn't afford to investigate other free agent pass rushers. I wouldn't be opposed to them pursuing Kamerion Wimbley, whom the Oakland Raiders released Friday.

Thanks to AFC West colleague Bill Williamson, we've known for a few hours that the Minnesota Vikings were likely to make tight end John Carlson their first free-agent signing. And now ESPN's Adam Schefter has confirmed Carlson agreed to a five-year deal worth $25 million during a visit Wednesday.

Carlson is a Minnesota native and figures to team with fellow Notre Dame alumnus Kyle Rudolph to form a potent set of pass-catching tight ends. One of general manager Rick Spielman's top goals is to surround young quarterback Christian Ponder with more playmakers in the passing game, and that can be accomplished through the addition of a tight end as easily as a wide receiver.

The question on Carlson is his health, which the Vikings presumably checked out in great detail before finalizing Wednesday's agreement. He missed all of last season with the Seattle Seahawks because of a torn labrum, and he hasn't played since suffering a scary concussion during the Seahawks' 2010 divisional playoff game at Soldier Field.

It was the third concussion Carlson has suffered in his football career, according to reports at the time, and he was taken off the field in an ambulance. We have our fair share of experience with concussions here in the NFC North, but at this point we have to defer to the Vikings' medical staff as it relates to Carlson.

(The Minnesota Vikings are) Black and Blue All Over:

You say the Vikings were sitting on their hands during the first hours of free agency? I'll point you in the direction of Adam Caplan's report that tight end John Carlson is scheduled to visit their facility Wednesday. *Update: My AFC West colleague Bill Williamson writes that Carlson is likely to sign with the Vikings after cutting short a visit with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tight end wouldn't appear to be a primary position of need for the Vikings, who made the promising Kyle Rudolph a second-round draft pick last season. But Carlson was an excellent pass catcher for three years for the Seattle Seahawks before a shoulder injury forced him to miss the 2011 season, and he would fit a larger goal of providing quarterback Christian Ponder with more playmakers. The New England Patriots, after all, have shown how two strong pass-catching tight ends can power an offense.

The Vikings haven't shown much, if any interest, in bringing back veteran Visanthe Shiancoe, who on Wednesday morning tweeted: "Good memories in minn.. especially '09 !"

We'll keep you updated on any Vikings announcement on Carlson, a Minnesota native who is sure to get the locals excited about his return. For now, a few local headlines:

• No one should be surprised at the Vikings' free agent approach, writes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com. Zulgad: "[T]o get all excited about not diving into free agency in the opening hours of a frenzy in which dollars are thrown around like Aaron Rodgers' passes? That's just silly."
• The Vikings aren't looking for a quick fix, writes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings' stadium bill will get its first committee hearing Wednesday, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

With so much discussion recently about the future of Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, we've hardly noted that another prominent Bears assistant also has an expiring contract and is uncertain to return.

Highly regarded special teams coordinator Dave Toub is a coaching "free agent" and has aspirations to be a head coach. In a story first reported by the Chicago Tribune, Toub is a candidate for the Miami Dolphins' job and has been scheduled for an interview.

Toub would seem likely to return to Chicago if he doesn't get the Dolphins job, but as a free agent he would have the opportunity to field offers to fulfill the same job elsewhere. The Bears might have to match a big contract offer to retain him. Stay tuned.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears coach Lovie Smith was pretty neutral on the future of Martz during a news conference, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Here's how Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com interpreted Smith's comments on Martz: "In Lovie-speak, that reads as much like Martz is not coming back as anything short of a press release announcing it."
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune grades the Bears' offense.
• The Detroit Lions aren't just happy to be in the playoffs, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions haven't been great with their blitz, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Lions' front seven deserves some of the blame for giving up 480 passing yards to Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• The Packers are considering making Brad Jones their starting right outside linebacker for the playoffs, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers are an awfully healthy team heading into the playoffs, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• After finishing last year with 15 players on injured reserve, the Packers have six at the moment, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota Vikings players are bracing for significant personnel changes in 2012, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune.
• The Vikings have nearly 20 free agents heading into the offseason, notes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com breaks down the tape of the Vikings' loss to the Bears, noting among other things that rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph got more snaps than veteran Visanthe Shiancoe for the third consecutive week.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 33-26 victory over the Washington Redskins, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertFollowing their win against the Redskins, the Vikings take a seat in the examination room.
   I felt a pang of sympathy for this franchise, which is owned, operated and coached by competent people I respect. None of them could have enjoyed the end of a six-game losing streak, not after watching tailback Adrian Peterson suffer a knee injury that could change the course of his career and the direction of the franchise. Peterson is a special athlete, but there isn't a long list of running backs who have returned from multiple torn knee ligaments without losing some of their strength and explosion. The good news is that Peterson has always been a high-effort player, meaning he will be productive -- if not elite -- upon his return. But in the meantime, the Vikings will be forced to take a fundamental look at the makeup of their offense this winter and spring. Fair or otherwise, they can't count on Peterson to be the best player on their team anymore. Peterson finished the season with 970 yards, snapping a four-season streak of compiling at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Only two players in NFL history have had a longer streak: LaDainian Tomlinson (eight) and Shaun Alexander (five).
2. Peterson's injury leaves receiver Percy Harvin as the Vikings' primary offensive playmaker entering the offseason. Harvin added two more big plays to what has been a career season Saturday, a 31-yard run on a reverse and a 36-yard catch on a jump ball from Webb. You might not realize it, but Harvin's 77 receptions this season is more than all but six wide receivers in the NFL. He's also rushed for 332 yards on 47 carries out of various formations. It's too bad the Vikings' poor record has overshadowed it, but Harvin has emerged as the multi-position threat the team envisioned for him three years ago and should be a cornerstone of the team's plans for 2012.
3. It's getting more difficult to find reasons why the Vikings shouldn't consider Joe Webb as a legitimate candidate for their starting job in 2012 and beyond. Obviously they have invested a high draft pick on Christian Ponder, and it's hardly time to render final judgment on a rookie after nine starts. But it would be underestimating Webb to say that he has just been a raw athlete making playground plays. His 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph was thrown from the pocket with perfect touch to the back of the end zone. And consider this: Webb has accounted for five touchdowns on seven possessions in relief of Ponder this season, including three touchdown passes and two on the ground. It's hard to overlook that kind of production. Next season, coach Leslie Frazier will enter the second of a three-year contract. My expectation is that he will start the quarterback that gives him the best chance to see Year Three. At the very least, Webb should be in the conversation.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

Can Toby Gerhart be an every down replacement for Peterson? The Vikings traded up in the second round of the 2010 draft to select him, but for the most part they haven't found a way to use him except when Peterson has been injured. Gerhart has 786 rushing yards over two seasons, and on Saturday he ripped off a career-long 67-yarder to set up a touchdown. He definitely doesn't have Peterson's breakaway ability, and like the rest of the NFL, Gerhart doesn't run with as much power. But unless the Vikings find a free agent gem or invest another high draft pick on a runner, Gerhart probably is going to get his chance at the start of next season. We'll find out then if he's up to it.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Green Bay Packers will play at least four, and potentially six, consecutive games outdoors on grass fields in cold-weather locales. That means it's time to get their running game in order. But just as they hit that stretch, the Packers are trying to figure out the best way to handle a series of injuries to lead runner James Starks.

As Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette points out, Starks has been forced out of three consecutive games because of knee and ankle injuries. He hasn't practiced all week and it might make some sense to hold him out of Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders to allow for additional healing time.

The Packers have a strong fallback in veteran Ryan Grant, and rookie Brandon Saine has been seeing repetitions in recent weeks. But we all know how much of an impact Starks made on the Packers' run to the Super Bowl last season. For what it's worth, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said that it might help to hold out Starks "from a freshness standpoint" but not a "football development standpoint" down the stretch.

The Packers have three regular-season games remaining at Lambeau Field and could have two playoff games if they win home-field advantage in the playoffs. Their only road game is in Week 15 at the Kansas City Chiefs.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Packers have 30 rushing plays this season that have lost yardage, notes the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers punter Tim Masthay has become a big-time weapon, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Detroit Lions are expecting the best shot Sunday from the Minnesota Vikings, writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• The New Orleans Saints went to extreme measures to defend Lions receiver Calvin Johnson last Sunday, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• John Niyo of the Detroit News: "The Calvin Rules are in full effect again, and it's up to [offensive coordinator Scott] Linehan and Matthew Stafford and Johnson's pass-catching teammates to take full advantage if the Lions are going to make the playoffs."
• Vikings receiver Percy Harvin suffered from migraine-like symptoms late last week, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune examines the "catch radius" of Vikings rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph.
• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder needs to learn when to run and when not to, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte is using a hyperbaric chamber to help his injured knee recover, notes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears don't have anything special planned for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• It appears that the Bears will start Craig Steltz in place of injured safety Major Wright (shoulder) this week, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.

A few thoughts on a wild game at the Metrodome with the Broncos winning 35-32:

What it means: In shades of their early-season struggles, the Minnesota Vikings lost another halftime lead and found a way to lose this game at the end. They are 2-10 and the best news is that they maintained their position near the top of the 2012 draft.

PonderWatch: We saw the best and worst of rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, who threw for 381 yards and three scores but also had two game-defining interceptions. Part of me wants to give Ponder credit for that kind of production in the absence of tailback Adrian Peterson. Ponder also appeared to be playing on a gimpy leg. But he threw his first interception into the hands of Mario Haggan, resulting in a 16-yard return for a score. And his second put the Broncos in position for Matt Prater's game-winning 23-yard field goal as time expired.

HarvinWatch: Receiver Percy Harvin, who missed practice Friday because of an illness, was the Vikings' big playmaker in the absence of Peterson. Harvin turned two short passes into long touchdown plays in the second half and finished with 156 receiving yards. He also took another five carries out of the backfield. I like the way the Vikings are using Harvin on offense under new coordinator Bill Musgrave.

Secondary woes: When Tim Tebow completes 10 of 15 passes against you for 202 yards and two scores, and isn't intercepted, you know you've got some issues in your secondary. Rookies Brandon Burton and Mistral Raymond saw plenty of action and, not surprisingly, struggled at times. The biggest insult: The Broncos' offense scored 28 points using basically a traditional offense. They didn't need to resort to the option and Tebow had only four carries.

Highlight reel: Rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph gave fans something to think about for the future by reaching over safety Quinton Carter to haul in a 19-yard touchdown reception. You can't ask more from a tight end in the red zone than to render the defender helpless with his size.

What's next: The Vikings will play at the Detroit Lions next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Getting inside the Friday injury report on what has become a frantic day here in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: The Bears listed two players as questionable for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs -- Defensive tackle Anthony Adams (back) and cornerback D.J. Moore (ankle). Neither is expected to play.

Detroit Lions: Safety Louis Delmas (knee) and cornerback Chris Houston (knee) are doubtful for Sunday night's game at the New Orleans Saints. Neither practiced this week and both are expected to miss the game. Running back Kevin Smith (ankle) is questionable but told reporters he would play Sunday night. Cornerback Brandon McDonald (thigh) did not practice this week and is listed as questionable. The Lions might end up starting Aaron Berry at cornerback and using Alphonso Smith at nickel. Finally, running back Jahvid Best (concussion) has been cleared to begin working out, according to the Lions' website. Best is on injured reserve and can't play again until next season.

Green Bay Packers: Rookie linebacker D.J. Smith is likely to make his first NFL start Sunday against the New York Giants after the Packers ruled out inside linebackers A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, who have calf injuries. Robert Francois could start at the other inside spot, but you never know when defensive coordinator Dom Capers will come up with a new alignment that minimizes the number of inexperienced players on the field. Smith will call the defensive signals. Tight end Andrew Quarless missed practice Friday because of a groin injury but is probable. Meanwhile, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) returned to practice Friday and is expected to play Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings: As we noted earlier, the Vikings ruled tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) out for the second consecutive game. He has never missed three consecutive games in his career. Receiver Percy Harvin (illness) missed practice and is listed as questionable, but at this point the Vikings believe he will play Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Middle linebacker E.J. Henderson (shoulder) returned to practice but is questionable for Sunday's game. Cornerback Asher Allen (shoulder) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps) are also questionable, but coach Leslie Frazier indicated that Henderson and Rudolph have good chances to play. Finally, guard Anthony Herrera (knee) is probable and should play for the first time in more than a month.

Let's hit Wednesday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: We've already hashed through comments from quarterback Jay Cutler, who admitted he doesn't know for sure whether he will return to play this season. Cornerback Charles Tillman (knee) didn't practice Wednesday but is expected to return Thursday. Cornerbacks D.J. Moore (ankle) and Zack Bowman (groin) were limited.

Detroit Lions: Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's appeal of a two-game suspension will be heard Thursday afternoon by appeals officer Art Shell. A decision is expected by the weekend. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) and cornerback Chris Houston (knee) missed another day of practice, as did running back Kevin Smith (ankle). Cornerback Brandon McDonald (thigh) was a limited participant.

Green Bay Packers: Coach Mike McCarthy indicated that linebacker Erik Walden will play Sunday against the New York Giants. Walden was arrested last Friday on suspicion of domestic violence but hasn't been charged yet. Guard Josh Sitton (knee) has been ruled out of Sunday's game, as has left tackle Chad Clifton, who now has a back injury on top of his hamstring issue. Linebackers A.J. Hawk (calf) and Desmond Bishop (calf) didn't practice Wednesday but could get back on the field Friday. Meanwhile, cornerback Pat Lee told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the NFL fined him $15,000 after getting ejected from last Thursday's game against the Lions.

Minnesota Vikings: Tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) and linebacker E.J. Henderson (shoulder) didn't practice. We'll know more later in the week on both players' status for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. Tight end Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps) returned to practice. Meanwhile, the Vikings could catch a break this week after Broncos linebacker Von Miller had thumb surgery. He hasn't been ruled out but at best will be limited in Sunday's game.

Hitting a few of Wednesday's news tidbits before heading to the airport:

Chicago Bears: We already got you up to date on the acquisition of quarterback Josh McCown. Cornerback D.J. Moore (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Safety Brandon Meriweather (concussion) was limited.

Detroit Lions: Reserve defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh) is doubtful for Thursday's game. Defensive tackle Corey Williams (calf) is listed as questionable but told reporters this week he plans to play. Defensive end Willie Young (ankle) is questionable but is expected to play. The only players ruled out are running back Jahvid Best (concussion) and punter Ryan Donahue (quadriceps).

Green Bay Packers: As we noted earlier, running back James Starks (knee/ankle) is questionable and left tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring) is out. All other players should be available Thursday.

Minnesota Vikings: Tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) was one of four players who didn't practice Wednesday. Coach Leslie Frazier said the team won't try to test Peterson in practice until Friday at the earliest. Safety Husain Abdullah (concussion), tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps) also missed practice. The Vikings might need to promote practice squad tight end Allen Reisner because of the Shiancoe and Rudolph injuries.

Getting inside the Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Nickel back D.J. Moore (ankle) is doubtful for Sunday's game and isn't expected to play against the San Diego Chargers. Corey Graham will be the nickel back. All other players should be available.

Detroit Lions: Punter Ryan Donahue (quadriceps) was ruled out, confirming that newcomer Ben Graham will punt Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Safety Amari Spievey (toe) is probable and expected to play. The Lions could be thin on the defensive line, based on the availability of defensive ends Willie Young (ankle) and Lawrence Jackson (thigh). Both are listed as questionable.

Green Bay Packers: The only injury issue this week has been defensive end Mike Neal (knee), who made it through portions of all three practices. The Packers are listing him as questionable for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an encouraging sign. Even if he doesn't play this week, it appears Neal hasn't had any setbacks to prevent an imminent return.

Minnesota Vikings: Guard Anthony Herrera (knee) and safety Husain Abdullah (concussion ) were ruled out for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Joe Berger will again start at right guard, and it's expected the Vikings will use a three-man rotation at safety between Jamarca Sanford, Tyrell Johnson and rookie Mistral Raymond. Meanwhile, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe (hamstring) is questionable, as is linebacker Erin Henderson (hamstring). Kyle Rudolph and Kenny Onatolu, respectively, could see additional playing time Sunday.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears nickelback D.J. Moore got an early exit from last Sunday's victory over the Detroit Lions. This week, he might not play at all.

Moore suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday's practice that, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com, "raises serious concerns about his availability" for this Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. Moore didn't practice Thursday and isn't expected to be on the field Friday, either.

Moore is not technicaly a starter, but he plays a lot. He has three interceptions and is tied for fifth on the team with 44 tackles. Special-teams ace Corey Graham, a long-ago starter at cornerback, is expected to fill in at nickel for him against the Chargers.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears cornerback Charles Tillman is playing at a Pro Bowl level, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times polls Pro Football Hall of Fame voters on the candidacy of Bears returner/receiver Devin Hester.
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press thinks the Detroit Lions can make the playoffs even if they can't run the ball.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: "Jahvid Best has been back at the Lions practice facility the last couple days. He even put on his jersey for a bit Thursday. But as good as it is to see him smiling and walking around, it doesn't appear he's any closer to putting on the pads and returning to action."
• The Carolina Panthers are modeling their rebuilding project after the Lions', writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Green Bay Packers rookie Randall Cobb is planning to slow himself down after a series of haste-induced fumbles, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that former Packers quarterback Brett Favre played as well in the mid-1990's as current quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing now.
• Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette examines the Packers' running back rotation.
• The Minnesota Vikings should consider switching this offseason to a 3-4 defense, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart has been a non-factor, writes Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph has impressed of late, according to the Pioneer Press.