Winfield Out Against Packers

NFL News - October 31st, 2009 - Written by John

The Minnesota Vikings' attempt to sweep rival the Green Bay Packers just got a bit tougher. After being hobbled by a gimpy right foot, cornerback Antoine Winfield will be out for Sunday's game, listed as out on the injury report. The team had hoped enough rest during the practice week would expedite the recovery, but only saw meager results.

"He has progress to where he's moving around a little bit," head coach Brad Childress said.

The game will be played in Green Bay in Brett Favre's highly-anticipated return to Lambeau Field where he set nearly every quarterbacking record.

Winfield will benefit from an off-week following the game, giving him three weeks to get into game shape for their November 15th game against Detroit. He will be replaced the a platoon of Karl Paymah, Asher Allen and Benny Sapp, who all held their weight last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They held Ben Roethlisberger to a season-low 175 yards passing and the NFL's yardage leader Hines Ward to a mere three caches.

"It's hard to replace a Pro Bowl corner in our league that does all the things that Antoine does for our defense, but it was great to see Paymah, Asher and Benny step in and play the way they played," Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier told ESPN. "We are going to need it again this week."

Winfield is fourth on the team with 30 tackles and has an interception this season.

It's even more bad news considering the Vikings are 27th against the pass and Aaron Rodgers is the second-rated quarterback in the league.

The team will likely return Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian. Darius Reynaud and Jasper Brinkley are questionable.

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