The Vikings could be without 34-year old CB Antoine Winfield this weekend due to a neck problem.  He has played in all 4 games for the Vikings so far this year and he has 35 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception.  Winfield is the heart and soul of the defense, so they hope he somehow can play and deal with WR Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals this Sunday.  If he can’t go (which is very likely), the Vikings hope that 24-year old Chris Cook will step up.  The 24-year old Cook has played in all 4 games for the Vikings so far this year and he has 13 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 passes defensed.

The Vikings will be without 26-year old linebacker Jasper Brinkley for the season due to recent hip surgery.  Brinkley played in all 16 games last year for the Vikings and he had 17 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.  He has now played in 32 games in his first two years with the Vikings and he has 48 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and 1 forced fumble.  Most of his work is done on special teams, but his injury will still hurt the depth at linebacker for the Vikings in 2011.

The Vikings have lost 30-year old G/T Scott Kooistra for the season as he underwent surgery yesterday to repair a spinal chord injury.  Kooistra didn’t play at all last season for the Ravens.  He was trying to make the Vikings as a backup in training camp.  Kooistra’s NFL career could be over due to this injury.  He has played in 84 games (1 start) in his first 8 years in the NFL.  Here’s to hoping that he has a full recovery.

The Vikings have placed starting LG Steve Hutchinson on the Injured Reserve List ending his season due to a broken thumb.  The 33-year old Hutchinson played in 11 games (all starts) for the Vikings this year.  Hutchinson has now played in 75 games (all starts) in his first five years with the Vikings.  23-year old rookie Chris DeGeare will replace Hutchinson in the starting lineup.  He has played in 6 games (3 starts) so far this year for the Vikings.  The Vikings need the 5th round pick out of Wake Forest to step up the last couple of weeks of the season.

The Vikings have placed 27-year old QB Tarvaris Jackson on the Injured Reserve List with a case of turf toe.  Jackson played in 3 games for the Vikings last season and he completed 34 of 58 passes (58.6%) for 341 yards with 3 TD passes and 4 INTs (63.9 QB Rating).  Jackson also carried the ball 9 times for 63 yards (7.0 ypc) this year.  Jackson has now played in 36 games in his five years with the Vikings and he has completed 354 of 603 (58.7%) for 3,984 yards with 24 TD passes and 22 INTs (76.6 QB Rating).  Jackson also has carried the ball 119 times for 535 yards (4.5 ypc) with 4 TD runs for the Vikings.  This might be the end for Jackson with the Vikings as he will be a free agent after this year is over.

The Vikings have placed 23-year old cornerback Chris Cook on the Injured Reserve List with a knee injury.  Cook played in 6 games for the Vikings this year and he had 21 tackles and 2 passes defensed.   Cook was a second round pick (#34 overall) out of Virginia last April.  Cook has potential to be a good NFL player if he can just stay healthy.

41-year old QB Brett Favre has a sprained joint in his throwing shoulder.  He has had a hard time getting dressed in the locker room according to reports and until today he was only handing off with his left arm.  Leslie Frazier has said that unless Brett Favre is healthy enough to play the entire game, he’s not going to be on the field for the first snap to keep his consecutive starting streak going.  Favre has played in 12 games so far this year and he has completed 212 of 351 passes for 2,446 yards with 10 TD passes and 18 INTs (69.6 QB Rating).  Favre has also carried the ball 16 times for 8 yards (0.5 ypc) so far this year.  If Favre can’t go this weekend then the Vikings with turn to 27-year old Tarvaris Jackson who played decent last week in the Vikings’ 38-14 win over the Bills.  Jackson has played in 2 games for the Vikings so far this year and he has completed 19 of 28 passes (67.9%) for 223 yards with 3 TD passes and 3 INTs (87.9 QB Rating).  Jackson has also carried the ball 3 times for 55 yards (18.3 ypc) so far this year.  In my own opinion, I think the Vikings should start Jackson because I don’t think Brett Favre will be effective throwing the ball with the injury he has.

The Vikings have placed 25-year old RB Albert Young on the Injured Reserve List with a knee injury.  Young played in 3 games for the Vikings this season and he carried the ball 13 times for 29 yards (2.2 ypc).  He also caught 2 passes for 11 yards (5.5 avg) this year.  Young has now played in 10 games in his first two seasons with the Vikings in which he has carried the ball 25 times for 82 yards (3.3 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 11 yards (5.5 avg).  Young might have a hard time making the Vikings’ roster in 2011 and his injury helps explain the signing of Lorenzo Booker.

41-year old QB Brett Favre suffered two fractures to his left ankle in Sunday Night’s loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field.  He won’t need surgery to fix his ankle but it’s up in the air as to whether or not he’ll be able to play with the pain.  Favre has played in 6 games for the Vikings so far this year and he has completed 104 of 179 passes (58.1%) for 1,191 yards with 7 TD passes and 10 INTs (68.0 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 7 times for -1 yard (-0.1 ypc) so far this year.  Head Coach Brad Childress ripped Favre in public for his decision making, which makes me think that he’s considering a QB change anyway.  It would be a shame to see Brett Favre benched even if he’s ready to try to play this weekend against the Patriots.  Favre has played in 295 games in his NFL career and he has completed 6,187 of 9,990 passes (61.9%) for 70,520 yards with 504 TD passes and 327 INTs (86.3 QB Rating).  Favre has also carried the ball 592 times for 1,835 yards (3.1 ypc) with 14 TD runs in his career.  I bet Favre is wishing he would have stayed retired the way this season is going.

The Minnesota Vikings have lost starting cornerback Cedric Griffin for the year due to a torn right ACL.  Griffin was injured in last night’s game against the Jets.  Griffin played in 2 games for the Vikings this year and he had 8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed.  22-year old Asher Allen and 29-year old Lito Sheppard will have to step up with Griffin out for the year.  Allen has played in 4 games this year for the Vikings and he has 14 tackles and 2 passes defensed.  Lito Sheppard has also played in all 4 games for the Vikings this year and he has 7 tackles and 3 passes defensed.  The Vikings are going to miss Cedric Griffin who was one of the best pass defenders the Vikings have.