Vikings CB Antoine Winfield Thinks He'll Play Despite Team's Cautious Stance

Antoine Winfield smiled wide as he came off the practice field Thursday. For the first time in October, the Vikings cornerback participated in a full-contact, full-pads practice. His initial analysis was upbeat, the soreness in his neck slowly fading. "It went pretty good for the first time getting out there being able to hit," Winfield said. "Didn't feel too much. So it looks like I might be out there [Sunday]." Coach Leslie Frazier said he wasn't quite as optimistic as he had expected to be, perhaps sensing some hesitance in Winfield during practice. "He moved around OK," Frazier said. "I'd like to talk to him a little bit and see how he feels mentally as well as physically. [The Panthers] have some really good backs and, as you know, an explosive receiver [in Steve Smith]. So he's going to have to tackle for us like the Antoine we know."

Source: Star-Tribune
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