With so much focus being placed on quarterback Brett Favre’s rickety ankle, one potentially major problem has been overlooked as the Vikings prepare to visit the Saints to launch the 2010 regular season.
The Vikings have only three healthy cornerbacks.
Given the pass-happy nature of the New Orleans offense, that could be a big problem. And Pro Bowl corner Antoine Winfield knows it.
Will the Saints try to spread the Vikings’ defense out? “I’m sure they will,” Winfield said Monday, per Tom Pelissero of 1500espn.com. “I’m sure they’re reading the papers, looking on the Internet, reading that we only have three corners. So, we can expect that.”
So, should the Vikings bring in more help at the position? “It would be nice,” Winfield said. “But that’s not up to me. The coaches make the decisions.”
Possibilities include, as compiled by Pelissero, Dre’ Bly, Karl Paymah, Jacques Reeves, Travis Fisher, Tye Hill, and Macho Harris.
It’s also possible that Chris Cook (knee) and/or Cedric Griffin (knee) will play. Cook didn’t practice on Monday; Griffin participated on a limited basis as he continues to come back from a torn ACL suffered in January against the Saints.