By Joseph Gunther
Jerome Simpson felt leg weakness and numbness the morning of the Minnesota Vikings Week 5 win over the Tennessee Titans. He tried to play, dropped the first pass from Christian Ponder and was targeted just twice the remainder of the game. Even after finding the reason for the issue, head coach Leslie Frazier does not know if the wide receiver will be able to play.
(Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
WR Percy Harvin (hamstring)
The fourth-year veteran was added to the injury report Thursday and was limited that day. Friday he was a full participant. He has 38 catches for 407 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also has a team-record 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He is expected to start Sunday. Status for Sunday: Probable.
OL Charlie Johnson (low back)
The seventh-year veteran was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, but was a full participant Friday. He was injured during the Vikings Week 4 win over the Detroit Lions. He has started all five games this season. He is expected to start Sunday. Status for Sunday: Probable.
LB Marvin Mitchell (calf)
The sixth-year veteran was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday and did not practice Friday. He was injured during last week’s practice and did not play in the win over the Tennessee Titans. He missed the first two games of the season due an ankle injury. He has three tackles in two games this season. Rookie Audie Cole took his place on the active roster against the Titans. Status for Sunday: Doubtful.
RB Adrian Peterson (ankle)
The sixth-year veteran did not practice Wednesday and gradually improved as the week went on from limited participant on Thursday to full participant on Friday. He was injured in the win over the Titans. He has 420 yards and two touchdowns rushing while catching 13 passes for 79 yards. He is expected to start. Given his quick recovery from the ACL injury, it will be shocking if he did not play Sunday. Status for Sunday: Probable.
QB Christian Ponder (knee)
The second-year veteran was a full participant all week. He was injured during the win over the Lions. He was on last week’s injury report with a neck injury. He has 1,082 passing yards and six touchdowns while running for 77 yards and a touchdown. He is expected to be the starting quarterback Sunday. Status for Sunday: Probable.
S Mistral Raymond (ankle)
The second-year veteran did not practice all week. He injured the ankle in the Week 3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The general time table for his type of injury would put him back within the next two weeks. He has five tackles and one pass defensed through three games this season. He is expected to be replaced in the starting lineup by Jamarca Sanford. Status for Sunday: Out.
S Andrew Sendejo (ankle)
The second-year veteran was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, but was a full participant Friday. He was injured during the third preseason game and did not play the final preseason game and week one. He returned in Week 2 and played two games. He has not recorded any stats this season. Rookie Robert Blanton figures to get more playing time as the backup safety at both spots, but Sendejo should return to his regular special teams role. Status for Sunday: Probable.
WR Jerome Simpson (lower back/foot)
The fifth-year veteran did not practice Wednesday and then was a limited participant Thursday and Friday. He was injured prior to the win over the Titans. He has four catches for 50 yards and two pass interference penalties drawn in two games. It is still unclear whether or not he plays. If not Devin Aromashodu should get more playing time as an outside receiver. Status for Sunday: Questionable.
DT Kevin Williams (illness)
The 10th-year veteran did not practice Wednesday, but was not on Thursday or Friday’s injury report. He has 12 tackles, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He is expected to start Sunday. The illness appears to have been a quick bug. Status for Sunday: Probable.
CB Antoine Winfield (knee)
The 14th-year veteran was a limited participant in practice all week. He was injured during the Week 4 victory over the Lions. He has 34 tackles, five passes defensed and one interception this season. He is expected to start Sunday or serve as the nickel defensive back behind Chris Cook and Josh Robinson. Status for Sunday: Probable.
The Vikings list probable as a 75 percent chance the player will play, questionable means it is 50 percent, doubtful is 25 percent and out means the player will not play.
Recap of the Injury Status
Probable:
WR Percy Harvin (hamstring)
OL Charlie Johnson (low back)
RB Adrian Peterson (ankle)
QB Christian Ponder (knee)
S Andrew Sendejo (ankle)
CB Antoine Winfield (knee)
Questionable:
WR Jerome Simpson (lower back/foot)
Doubtful:
LB Marvin Mitchell (calf)
Out:
S Mistral Raymond (ankle)
For more Local Football Bloggers and the latest Vikings news, see CBS Sports Minnesota.
Joseph Gunther is an avid fan of Minnesota sports, including football, hockey and baseball. He covered a wide variety of sports while attending Hastings College in Hastings, Neb. While at Hastings College, he was a part of the first collegiate media group to broadcast a national tournament via television, radio, internet and newspaper at the 2004 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament. He grew up in the Twin Cities playing three years of varsity football in high school. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
