PACKERS' INJURY REPORT
Out: S Atari Bigby (knee), RB Brandon Jackson (ankle), LB Jeremy Thompson (knee).
Questionable: T Chad Clifton (ankle).
Probable: DE Cullen Jenkins (groin), WR Greg Jennings (wrist), DE Johnny Jolly (abdomen), NT B.J. Raji (ankle), CB Charles Woodson (foot).
VIKINGS' INJURY REPORT
Doubtful: LB Erin Henderson (calf), WR Darius Reynaud (hamstring).
Questionable: G Steve Hutchinson (back), FB Naufahu Tahi (back).
Probable: QB Brett Favre (foot), CB Cedric Griffin (hand), LB E.J. Henderson (shoulder), TE Jim Kleinsasser (hand), P Chris Kluwe (illness).
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
BACK IN FORM: The Packers caught a break in the second meeting between the two teams last season because MLB E.J. Henderson went on injured reserve after the fourth game with a foot injury. Slow-footed Napoleon Harris, now on the street, was re-signed to replace him. "He's come back and is playing very well," an offensive assistant for a recent Vikings' opponent said. "Sure tackler. He can be a mismatch on your backs in pass protection. They do a nice job keeping blockers off him. He's relentless. He, 94 (Pat Williams), 93 (Kevin Williams), 69 (Jared Allen) and 26 (Antoine Winfield) are their really good players." Playing every snap, Henderson leads the team in tackles with 22, 10 more than anyone else. "That's the bell cow of that defense," one scout said. "When he takes on blocks and he's making a tackle there's some punch behind it. Tough guy. Really good." Added another assistant: "He's their quiet leader. He will try to blow it up. Good in coverage, too."
TOP TARGET: The minute that the Vikings drafted Phil Loadholt in the second round they made him their starting RT. He was the 54th overall pick; when Green Bay traded up to take Clay Matthews at 26, they gave up the 41st choice and didn't draft again until 109. The massive rookie has played to mixed reviews. "I thought he was the worst of their five starters," one scout said. "He's really big and has long arms but he's not that great of an athlete at all. He'll give up the edge. He's an OK run blocker. He has size so he can plow you that way. But as far as punch and really getting movement, that's not what he does." Loadholt played LT at Oklahoma the past two seasons. "I wouldn't say he's a liability," another personnel man said. "He's kind of a normal, everyday guy at right tackle. Is he a guy you can attack and should be able to beat? Yes. They don't ask that offensive line to do much. Just kind of get a body on a body. They're so big, they can survive."
FIRST SHOT: The Packers will get their first look at rookie Percy Harvin, the 22nd pick. "They're getting him involved," one scout said. "I don't know how much of the offense he has down yet. He's extremely dangerous. He's not a refined route runner. There's some things in his game he will have to improve on as he becomes a pro. But when he has the ball in his hands he's a 'wow' guy. He's a game-changer." Harvin returned a kickoff 101 yards for a TD against the 49ers. "He's just learning how to play," an opposing assistant said. "He's very quick and has great speed. You miss a tackle on him, you will pay dearly."
BACK END: After letting SS Darren Sharper walk to New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent, the Vikings promoted Tyrell Johnson to start opposite former Bengal Madieu Williams. "The coverage of their safeties is where teams look to go," an opposing assistant said. "That's where they have their possible issues . . . if you can take advantage of it and get the ball out." Williams was described by another assistant as "like a torpedo. He can blow you up but he can miss you, too. Good cover guy. I'd take Williams over Johnson." Johnson, a second-round pick in 2008, scored the NFL average of 19 on the Wonderlic intelligence test. "I think he is a liability," one scout said. "If you ask him to cover just one guy, a tight end or a running back, that's what he does best in coverage. If he has to go back and play center field or back-half coverages, I just don't think he anticipates, reacts or plays the ball like the good safeties do."
FAVRE FODDER: Brett Favre debuts against the Packers. "We played him (late) last year and he looked tired and slow," one opposing assistant said. "He looks more energized now. He knows what he's doing. He moves well enough in the pocket to protect himself." Favre underwent arm surgery during the off-season but is showing no ill effects. "Can he throw the deep ball like he once did?" one scout said. "No. He's not going to throw the 50- , 60-yard fade the way he used to. There's some limits to that. But he can throw that intermediate post, the deep out, all those balls. His exit plan now is to step up into the pocket. If they make him try to run out of the pocket, exit left, exit right, he's going to have trouble. But as long as they give him room to step up he's fine."
Out: S Atari Bigby (knee), RB Brandon Jackson (ankle), LB Jeremy Thompson (knee).
Questionable: T Chad Clifton (ankle).
Probable: DE Cullen Jenkins (groin), WR Greg Jennings (wrist), DE Johnny Jolly (abdomen), NT B.J. Raji (ankle), CB Charles Woodson (foot).
VIKINGS' INJURY REPORT
Doubtful: LB Erin Henderson (calf), WR Darius Reynaud (hamstring).
Questionable: G Steve Hutchinson (back), FB Naufahu Tahi (back).
Probable: QB Brett Favre (foot), CB Cedric Griffin (hand), LB E.J. Henderson (shoulder), TE Jim Kleinsasser (hand), P Chris Kluwe (illness).
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
BACK IN FORM: The Packers caught a break in the second meeting between the two teams last season because MLB E.J. Henderson went on injured reserve after the fourth game with a foot injury. Slow-footed Napoleon Harris, now on the street, was re-signed to replace him. "He's come back and is playing very well," an offensive assistant for a recent Vikings' opponent said. "Sure tackler. He can be a mismatch on your backs in pass protection. They do a nice job keeping blockers off him. He's relentless. He, 94 (Pat Williams), 93 (Kevin Williams), 69 (Jared Allen) and 26 (Antoine Winfield) are their really good players." Playing every snap, Henderson leads the team in tackles with 22, 10 more than anyone else. "That's the bell cow of that defense," one scout said. "When he takes on blocks and he's making a tackle there's some punch behind it. Tough guy. Really good." Added another assistant: "He's their quiet leader. He will try to blow it up. Good in coverage, too."
TOP TARGET: The minute that the Vikings drafted Phil Loadholt in the second round they made him their starting RT. He was the 54th overall pick; when Green Bay traded up to take Clay Matthews at 26, they gave up the 41st choice and didn't draft again until 109. The massive rookie has played to mixed reviews. "I thought he was the worst of their five starters," one scout said. "He's really big and has long arms but he's not that great of an athlete at all. He'll give up the edge. He's an OK run blocker. He has size so he can plow you that way. But as far as punch and really getting movement, that's not what he does." Loadholt played LT at Oklahoma the past two seasons. "I wouldn't say he's a liability," another personnel man said. "He's kind of a normal, everyday guy at right tackle. Is he a guy you can attack and should be able to beat? Yes. They don't ask that offensive line to do much. Just kind of get a body on a body. They're so big, they can survive."
FIRST SHOT: The Packers will get their first look at rookie Percy Harvin, the 22nd pick. "They're getting him involved," one scout said. "I don't know how much of the offense he has down yet. He's extremely dangerous. He's not a refined route runner. There's some things in his game he will have to improve on as he becomes a pro. But when he has the ball in his hands he's a 'wow' guy. He's a game-changer." Harvin returned a kickoff 101 yards for a TD against the 49ers. "He's just learning how to play," an opposing assistant said. "He's very quick and has great speed. You miss a tackle on him, you will pay dearly."
BACK END: After letting SS Darren Sharper walk to New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent, the Vikings promoted Tyrell Johnson to start opposite former Bengal Madieu Williams. "The coverage of their safeties is where teams look to go," an opposing assistant said. "That's where they have their possible issues . . . if you can take advantage of it and get the ball out." Williams was described by another assistant as "like a torpedo. He can blow you up but he can miss you, too. Good cover guy. I'd take Williams over Johnson." Johnson, a second-round pick in 2008, scored the NFL average of 19 on the Wonderlic intelligence test. "I think he is a liability," one scout said. "If you ask him to cover just one guy, a tight end or a running back, that's what he does best in coverage. If he has to go back and play center field or back-half coverages, I just don't think he anticipates, reacts or plays the ball like the good safeties do."
FAVRE FODDER: Brett Favre debuts against the Packers. "We played him (late) last year and he looked tired and slow," one opposing assistant said. "He looks more energized now. He knows what he's doing. He moves well enough in the pocket to protect himself." Favre underwent arm surgery during the off-season but is showing no ill effects. "Can he throw the deep ball like he once did?" one scout said. "No. He's not going to throw the 50- , 60-yard fade the way he used to. There's some limits to that. But he can throw that intermediate post, the deep out, all those balls. His exit plan now is to step up into the pocket. If they make him try to run out of the pocket, exit left, exit right, he's going to have trouble. But as long as they give him room to step up he's fine."
