Vikings QB Ponder resting hip, hopes to play

Christian Ponder won’t be practicing on Wednesday, but he’s hoping his hip pointer will be recovered enough to let him play Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Christian Ponder’s hip pointer and Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier are pointing the rookie quarterback to the sideline for at least Wednesday’s practice and maybe longer this week.

Ponder was injured during the first half of Sunday’s 35-32 loss to the Denver Broncos, but he didn’t miss a down. Instead, he put on extra padding and continued to play.

He’s pretty confident that, while the hip injury will keep him out of at least one practice this week, he will be able to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions.


“I’m going to try to be out there as soon as possible. I’ll definitely be taking mental reps and doing everything I can to prepare myself, watching a lot of film and everything,” Ponder said. “The thing about [the Lions] is they’re not too complicated on defense. They have a great defense and have great guys and personnel, but they don’t do anything too complicated. They don’t do too many disguises. That’s kind of the perfect week to just watch film and not try to do anything too physical.”

Ponder was roughed up early and often against the Broncos, as Denver blitzed on more than half of its defensive plays in the first quarter. Ponder was still showing the effects of his hip pointer while walking around the Vikings’ Winter Park practice facility on Wednesday.

“It’s stiff and the crazy thing is it’s right in your hip and there’s so much swelling everywhere. Everything that attaches to the hip is sore as well. It’s not fun,” Ponder said.

Frazier said the next day or two will be key for Ponder’s recovery.

“He’s a little stiffer than we thought he would be,” Frazier said. “Hopefully he’ll get a little bit better today and in the next 24 hours he’ll continue to improve.”

INJURY ROUNDUP

RB Adrian Peterson didn't practice either because of his high ankle sprain that has caused him to miss the last two games.

DE Brian Robison still hasn’t passed his league-mandated post-concussion impact test and can’t practice until he does.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe was limited Wednesday because of a hand injury.

G Steve Hutchinson didn’t practice because of illness.

The Vikings should have CB Asher Allen returning from a shoulder injury this week, but he was limited on Wednesday. So were LB Chad Greenway (elbow) and DE Everson Griffen (quadriceps), who are both likely to play.

TE Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps), who was listed as questionable last Friday but played and caught a touchdown pass, has been taken off the injury report.

LB E.J. Henderson (shoulder) and G Anthony Herrera (knee) were both full participants but remained on the injury report.

The Lions had a significant list of players not practicing: S Louis Delmas (knee), DT Nick Fairley (foot), CB Chris Houston (knee), DE Lawrence Jackson (thigh), RB Kevin Smith (ankle) and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (not injury related).

Also for the Lions, LB Justin Durant (hamstring), CB Brandon McDonald (thigh), G Rob Sims (shoulder), DE Willie Young (ankle) were limited.

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