Injuries Work Way Through WR Corps

The Vikings have one receiver who appears to be out for Monday night’s game and two others recovering from concussions.

Vikings receiver Marcus Robinson spent Thursday in Chicago getting a second opinion on the lower back injury he sustained in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game at Seattle.

Robinson is listed as questionable on the Vikings’ injury report for Monday night’s game against New England and almost certainly won’t play. The question is how many games will Robinson miss.

Although it’s not believed to be a related injury, Robinson underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back in 2000 and again in 2001.

Last Sunday’s game marked the first time the Vikings have had five receivers active for a game. They likely would go back to having four in uniform on Monday night. That list would include Troy Williamson, Travis Taylor, Billy McMullen and Bethel Johnson.

Williamson, Taylor and Johnson joined Robinson on the team’s injury report. Williamson and Taylor both suffered concussions in the first quarter at Seattle, and Johnson is listed as having a hamstring injury.

Johnson, however, said he was fine Thursday, and Taylor is probable. Williamson was downgraded from probable to questionable Thursday but said he would be ready to go.

Williamson was knocked out when he was hit by Seattle safety Ken Hamlin and did not return. One play after Williamson was injured, Taylor was drilled by cornerback Kelly Herndon. Taylor, though, continued to play.

Coach Brad Childress did not seem concerned about his receivers when asked Thursday.

“I am confident in everybody we put out there,” he said. “It doesn’t make any difference. There is an attitude that guys are going to get nicked and they are going to go down. We don’t like it, but the next person steps up and fills the bill. We’ll make decisions on who those people are at the end of the week.”

If Taylor or Williamson is slowed, Johnson could see a bigger role in his second game in the Vikings’ West Coast offense. He did not catch a pass in Seattle. McMullen, meanwhile, hasn’t seen extensive action but does have six catches.

NOTES

RG Artis Hicks was added to the Vikings’ injury report as questionable on Thursday because of a neck injury. He missed part of practice.

RT Marcus Johnson was added to the injury report as questionable because of an ankle problem that caused him to sit out a part of practice.

DE Kenechi Udeze was added to the injury report as questionable because of an ankle injury suffered Sunday at Seattle. He sat out a portion of Thursday’s practice.

DT Pat Williams was added to the injury report as questionable because of a foot injury that forced him to miss a portion of practice.

C Matt Birk has been named the Vikings’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. The honor is given annually to a player on each NFL team who exemplifies sportsmanship and courage. Birk missed all of last season because of injury but has returned to start every game this year.

DT Kevin Williams has had a sack in three consecutive games and trails the NFL leaders among defensive tackles this season by only one.