EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Chris Cook says he's ready. Cedric Griffin says he's getting close, too.
The Minnesota Vikings listed both cornerbacks as questionable on Friday's injury report, and there seems to be a decent chance they'll make their season debuts on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
Cook was a full participant in practice for a third straight day on Friday. Afterward, he said he rotated with starter Antoine Winfield and Griffin during team drills and all three players worked together in the nickel defense.
"Last week, I wasn't taking reps with the (starting) defense," said Cook, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on Aug. 29. "This week, I took reps with the defense, and I was doing defense and show team, just to try to get my wind up. That was pretty successful, because I feel pretty good running around out there."
Griffin hasn't played in a game since blowing out his left knee in the NFC championship game on Jan. 24. He remained limited in practice throughout this week, as he has been since the Vikings activated him off the physically unable to perform list Sept. 4.
"It's getting there," Griffin said. "I'm getting more reps on the scout team and on defense right now, so they're allowing me to run around a little bit more, just kind of test my leg out, and it's doing well for me right now."
The presence of either or both cornerbacks would boost the Vikings secondary against Detroit, which leans heavily on 6-foot-5 receiver Calvin Johnson. Cook (6-2) and Griffin (6-foot) are the two tallest cornerbacks on the Vikings roster, with the rest all 5-10 or shorter.
"They are getting closer," coach Brad Childress said. "They had nice weeks of practice here."
Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy (knee) also was listed as questionable. Everyone else on the Vikings' injury report — receivers Bernard Berrian (knee) and Percy Harvin (hip), quarterback Brett Favre (ankle/right elbow), linebacker Ben Leber (back), left tackle Bryant McKinnie (finger) and center John Sullivan (calf) — are probable.
NOTES: Vikings S Madieu Williams was fined $5,000 for his unnecessary roughness penalty in Sunday's loss to Miami, an NFL spokesman said on Friday. Williams was fined for "striking (a) defenseless receiver in (the) head and neck area." He also was penalized on the play, which came on the opening drive of the third quarter, but it was offset by an infraction on the Dolphins.
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