Minnesota’s Percy Harvin, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is questionable for the NFC Championship game in New Orleans.
Harvin missed his second straight practice yesterday because of migraine headaches, a problem he’s had most of his life and that cost him one game this season. He has been invaluable to the Vikings as a wide receiver, kickoff returner and even occasionally as a runner out of the backfield on plays designed for him.
Coach Brad Childress called the situation “less than ideal” and said Harvin’s ability to fly with the team today to New Orleans could be affected. Childress also noted Harvin has played before under the same conditions.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen,” quarterback Brett Favre said of his trusty third-down target. “We hope he plays, but we have to prepare as we’ve been doing, like Percy’s playing.”
Better news for the Vikings was the return to practice of starting defensive linemen Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams. They’re each listed as questionable, with knee injuries that kept them out of practice the previous two days. Edwards wore a brace on his right knee. Childress said both of them moved around “OK” during drills.
“We’ll see how they bounce back [Saturday],” Childress said. “That’s always the litmus test.”
* Minnesota punter Chris Kluwe got some unique practice in for New Orleans returner Reggie Bush.
Kluwe went to the Metrodome with some members of the team to practice kicking in a stadium similar to the Superdome. The Vikings have an indoor practice facility with a roof that’s not high enough for full hang time.
Well, workers have been setting up the Metrodome for a monster truck show, so Kluwe had to punt around the ramps and wear a fluorescent green vest to meet federal safety regulations.
With the field covered in dirt, Kluwe kicked from a strip of old turf on top of wobbly wooden planks. The set-up crew even caught a couple of punts.
Kluwe says it was a “different” experience, but that he “got some good punting in.”