No Starting QB Announced Yet

The Vikings are still holding off on announcing who will start at quarterback in Kansas City, but Kelly Holcomb still seems to be the most likely candidate.

Vikings coach Brad Childress hasn’t announced his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game at Kansas City, but it almost certainly won’t be Tarvaris Jackson.

Jackson suffered a groin strain in the Vikings’ loss to Detroit last Sunday and missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Childress said he hasn’t closed the door on Jackson playing, but in reality veteran Kelly Holcomb is expected to get the start.

Holcomb, acquired from Philadelphia in late August, and Brooks Bollinger have been taking the snaps in practice this week. Bollinger has been the No. 2 quarterback in the first two regular-season games but that was in part because Holcomb wasn’t completely up to speed with the Vikings’ offense.

That is no longer the case, according to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

“With the way that we do our installations, it’s like starting over every single week,” Bevell said. “For the game plan, we re-install every single play, so what is going to be in this game plan he is going to know. We go over each and every one whether it has been in 16 straight weeks or if it’s the first time that it’s been in; we re-install it like it’s the first time. He’ll have all of that down and he’ll have no problem.”

The 34-year-old Holcomb has started 21 of the 34 games he has played in his 11 NFL seasons. He has not played in a game since the 2005 season when he started eight of 10 games in which he appeared.

“It’s been a little while,” Holcomb said. “It’s not like riding a bicycle, but you’ve got to get in there and look at all the tape and see what they’re doing to you.”

NOTES

S Darren Sharper did limited work in practice Thursday, a day after sitting out the entire session because of a hip injury. Sharper seems confident he will be able to play Sunday at Kansas City.

S Dwight Smith, who starts opposite Sharper, has not done any work in practice this week because of a hamstring injury. He could be replaced by Tank Williams against the Chiefs.

S Mike Doss remains on the injury report because of a calf problem, but has been going full speed in practice this week. The injuries to Sharper and Smith make it a virtual certainty Doss will make his regular-season debut with the Vikings on Sunday.

FB Tony Richardson remained limited in practice because of a forearm injury. Richardson did not play last Sunday at Detroit but certainly will push to play in the upcoming game. He spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Chiefs.

RB Chester Taylor was limited for a second consecutive day because of a hip injury that kept him out last week. It’s expected Taylor will return to the lineup Sunday.

WR Troy Williamson has been limited for the first two days of practice because of a hamstring ailment suffered while returning a kick against the Lions.