Irvin Out For Thursday's Game

Ken Irvin's tenure as a Viking has lasted just two plays. That total won't increase tomorrow vs. the Cardinals and may not vs. Green Bay in the season opener.

Turf toe is one of the most painful injuries a player can endure, and it has cut down on Ken Irvin's Vikings career already.

Irvin, who dislocated his right big toe on the second play of the preseason opener vs. the Saints, has missed all the rest of the preseason action and has already been scratched from tomorrow's game vs. the Cardinals.

Coach Mike Tice hinted Tuesday that Irvin may not even be ready for the regular season opener vs. Green Bay Sept. 7.

For now, Irvin is taking a wait-and-see approach as to when he will come back, but he hasn't ruled out playing vs. the Packers.

WEDNESDAY NOTES
* CB Brian Williams will start in Irvin's place Thursday.
* Fellow injured CB Denard Walker (hamstring) has been cleared to play Thursday and will start -- likely playing just two or three series.
* Michael Bennett will get his cast removed tomorrow and an evaluation to the healing process will likely be initially made as he begins the rehab process.
* You've got to feel for the Cardinals. Not only did they lose their starting QB, RB and top three wide receivers from a year ago, the team placed starting defenders CB Duane Starks and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch on injured reserve Tuesday. Both suffered torn ACLs. Starks was the biggest free agent signing in the history of the franchise when was signed away from the Ravens in 2002.