When is a preseason game not just a preseason game? When Brett Favre is starting at quarterback.
Only Favre could take a run-of-the-mill exhibition match-up and turn it into must-see TV.
Of course, Favre will only be in for around 10 offensive plays, according to Brad Childress. And I’m guessing none of those will be a naked bootleg. Or a crazy Wildcat play where he has to try to block someone.
At some point, Favre will have to run around on that gimpy ankle. Hopefully, that point will not come tonight.
In truth, nothing Favre does tonight will mean a hell of a lot. But it will be fun to see him out there again.
It would’ve been fun to see Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin too, but neither of those guys will be on the field. Adrian Peterson, however, is expected to see some action, after sitting out the preseason opener. E.J. Henderson is also expected to make his preseason debut, 8 months after breaking his leg against the Cardinals.
Once again, the cornerback competition will be a big storyline for the Vikings. Antoine Winfield is expected to play for a series, then be replaced by rookie Chris Cook, who is in the mix for nickelback. Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen, who are in a heated battle for a starting spot, will rotate at the other corner.
And then there’s the on-going wide receiver drama. Bernard Berrian, Greg Lewis and Logan Payne look to be the top three, with Rice and Harvin on the shelf and Jaymar Johnson now on IR. Javon Walker and Brandon Jones were worked out on Friday, but neither has been signed. Marko Mitchell, Taye Biddle, Ray Small, Marquis Hamilton and Freddie Brown remain in the mix.
Quarterbacks-wise, it will be Favre for a series or two, then Tarvaris Jackson probably for a lot longer than last week. I imagine Sage Rosenfels and Joe Webb will both see time in the second half. Sage will try to follow up his impressive performance vs. St. Louis in the opener, but likely won’t have Garrett Mills to throw to this time, after Mills injured himself in practice.
The back-up running back situation also warrants a close look. Neither Albert Young nor Toby Gerhart did much to impress last week, but they will get another shot tonight. Hopefully one of those guys will post some good runs and maybe catch a few balls out of the backfield, so we can all stop pining for Chester Taylor.
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