No Definitive Decision on Jackson

Head coach Brad Childress wouldn’t commit to Tarvaris Jackson as his definite starter on Thursday, saying “I have to keep seeing what I need to see” regarding Jackson’s recovery from a groin injury.

Although all signs point to Tarvaris Jackson starting at quarterback Sunday for the Vikings, coach Brad Childress continued to say Thursday that no decision has been made.

“I can’t tell you because I don’t know,” Childress said of his starting quarterback for the Bears game. “I have to keep seeing what I need to see.”

Jackson missed the Vikings’ final two games before their bye last week because of a groin strain. He has been limited in both practices this week but is splitting snaps with Kelly Holcomb.

“I’ve been practicing all week and it’s feeling better and better each week,” Jackson said. “By game time, the adrenaline is flowing a little more so hopefully it will feel a lot better then.”

The Vikings will carry a 1-3 record into Soldier Field; a loss would drop them to 0-3 in the NFC North. Jackson was 1-1 before being injured late in a Week 2 overtime loss at Detroit.

He threw four interceptions in that game and had an abysmal 26.4 rating, dropping to 1-3 in four career stats. But Childress made it clear after Jackson got hurt that the second-round pick in 2006 would return as his starter when healthy.

That choice became easier after Holcomb lost both his starts (at Kansas City and against Green Bay) in place of Jackson.

NOTES

DE Erasmus James, who has yet to play this season but was expected to return Sunday, was added to the injury report Thursday because of a shoulder problem that limited him. James missed the first four games because the coaching staff did not feel a knee injury he suffered last season was 100 percent. Coach Brad Childress had made it clear of late that James was ready to go and now it was a number game on the defensive line. It’s not clear if the shoulder injury was the result of a post-practice fight between James and running back Chester Taylor.

FS Dwight Smith was limited in practice again Thursday by a hamstring injury that has slowed him the past three weeks of practice but hasn’t caused him to miss a game.

LB Ben Leber was limited in practice for a second consecutive day because of a rib injury.

DL Darrion Scott was scheduled to have surgery Thursday on his broken left foot. He has been placed on injured reserve.

DT Fred Evans could get back on the field with Scott sidelined. Scott had been used inside on passing downs. Evans was active for the season-opener against Atlanta but has not played since.