Hicks sits out again

Artis Hicks got his first start at right tackle Sunday against Jacksonville, but it remains to be seen if he’ll make it two in row after suffering an elbow injury. He has missed two straight practices so far this week.

Artis Hicks took over as the Vikings’ starting right tackle a week ago after Brad Childress decided he had seen enough of the struggling Ryan Cook. But it remains to be seen whether Hicks gets a second consecutive start at that position on Sunday night against Chicago.

In the Vikings’ 30-12 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday, Hicks aggravated a right elbow injury he suffered in the regular-season opener against Green Bay. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.

Childress has said that if Hicks can’t go that Cook will step back into the starting lineup. Cook, a second-round pick in 2006, had started 29 consecutive games before being lifted following the Vikings’ 19-13 loss at Tampa Bay on Nov. 16.

Hicks played into the fourth quarter last Sunday before coming out because of the injury. He is wearing a brace-like device on his elbow this week.

Childress said Hicks “did a good job” against the Jaguars making his first ever NFL start at right tackle. Hicks was acquired from the Eagles in April 2006 and had played right guard before losing that job early in the 2007 season to Anthony Herrera.

Hicks has made it no secret he’s more comfortable playing on the left side and he did a nice job in the first four games filling in at left tackle after Bryant McKinnie was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

But Hicks also has said he’s more comfortable playing tackle than guard and that was pretty obvious Sunday in Jacksonville. “He knows what it takes to play out there on the edge,” Childress said.

NOTES

DE Jared Allen was limited in practice for a second consecutive day Thursday so he could rest his right shoulder. Allen suffered what he said was a grade-3 sprain of the shoulder on Nov. 2 against Houston but has continued to play in games. He did not practice last Wednesday or Thursday.

LB Vinny Ciurciu, who did not play Sunday at Jacksonville because of a hand injury, was limited in practice for a second consecutive day Thursday.

LB David Herron was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a shoulder injury.

TE Garrett Mills was limited in practice for a second consecutive day Thursday because of an ankle injury suffered Nov. 16 at Tampa Bay. Mills did not play last Sunday.

S Madieu Williams was limited in practice Thursday because of a shoulder injury that he has continued to play through in recent weeks.

DT Letroy Guion did not practice Thursday because of an ankle injury.