Notebook: Robison tests shoulder, may play

Defensive end Brian Robison was trying to get back in the starting lineup after suffering a Grade 3 shoulder sprain on Sunday, and the Vikings had other starters returning to practice Friday.

Vikings defensive lineman Brian Robison, the only really questionable player for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, was back on the practice field Friday testing his right shoulder.

Robison, who suffered a Grade 3 sprain of the AC joint in his right shoulder in the first quarter of Sunday’s win over St. Louis, went through a series of tests with defensive line coach Brendan Daly and head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman before team drills started in practice. He was on the field at his usual left defensive end spot when the team was going through scout-team work.

“Brian did some things. We took him through some practice. He feels better,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. “We’ll talk a little bit more about how we want to proceed with him, but he did enough in practice today to create some encouragement amongst our staff and his teammates as well. We’ll have to talk with him and see how he feels (Saturday) after some of the things we put him through today.

“We saw some things today to make us think he may have a chance, but he has to feel it both mentally and physically.”

Robison will continue to get treatment on the shoulder as a lead-up to Sunday’s game, and the Vikings hope to have a better idea on his availability on Saturday.

If Robison is unable to play, Everson Griffen would be in line to get the start. Griffen’s reps increased in Sunday’s win as Robison’s replacement. Griffen played in 85 percent of the defensive snaps and intercepted a pass that he returned 29 yards for a touchdown. He also added one tackle, one quarterback hit and a pass defensed.

The Vikings are expected to get cornerback Chris Cook back in the lineup after he missed the last six games with a broken forearm. He is likely to start at right cornerback, with Josh Robison getting turns in the nickel defense and Antoine Winfield sliding inside to cover the slot receiver.

“He’s far enough along that we’re going to play him, it’s just a matter of how much we’re going to play him,” Frazier said of Cook.

The Vikings will have to make a roster move by Saturday afternoon to move Cook from injured reserve/designated to return to the 53-man roster.

Left tackle Matt Kalil also returned to work Friday after being unable to practice Wednesday and Thursday because of illness. Offensive line coach Jeff Davidson actually went to Kalil’s house while he was sick to review film of the Texans.

“It was kind of funny. I don’t think he’s ever been over to my house,” Kalil said. “He just wanted to be sure I’m prepared and just getting the same coaching that he’s having in that meeting room since I wasn’t able to be in there. I don’t think he wanted to break the routine of the whole season of me being in there going over the film, so he kind of wanted to get that same routine so I don’t get out of rhythm.”

Kalil said Friday he was “pretty much over” the virus he had, with a little congestion remaining after he received shots to help with the healing.

NOTES

Texans receiver Andre Johnson caught 11 passes for 151 yards in their win against the Indianapolis Colts, marking the 17th time that Johson has caught at least 10 passes in a game, which ties the NFL record shared by Jerry Rice and Wes Welker, according to the Elias Sport Bureau.

RB Adrian Peterson, who was rested Wednesday and Thursday with abdominal and groin injuries, also returned to practice Friday.

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Tim Yotter is the publisher of Viking Update. Follow Viking Update on Twitter and discuss this topic on our message boards. To become a subscriber to the Viking Update web site or magazine, click here.

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