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Tarvaris Jackson Suffers Scare at Vikings Training Camp

Aug 1, 2009 – 4:40 PM
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Bruce Ciskie

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A knee injury suffered by Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson Saturday is not believed to be serious.After all the hype surrounding Brett Favre's potential unretirement, the Minnesota Vikings have been trying to get back to normal.

Part of that normalcy is a training camp competition for the starting quarterback position. Incumbent Tarvaris Jackson and newcomer Sage Rosenfels will battle it out through the preseason for the right to start the opener Sept. 13 in Cleveland. For Jackson, his chances at the gig were -- at least temporarily -- in serious danger during Saturday morning's workout in Mankato, Minn.

Jackson was working in an 11-on-11 drill during practice when his left leg was rolled up on by defensive lineman Letroy Guion.

The initial report on Jackson's knee injury -- according to Pro Football Talk -- was an MCL sprain. While a more serious issue could have knocked Jackson out for some time, it's believed that he only suffered a Grade 1 sprain.

In the end, this single injury doesn't appear to be enough to tilt the quarterback battle toward Rosenfels. We've just started camp, and the Vikings are still almost two weeks away from their preseason opener. However, what could hurt the fourth-year pro is an injury history that is starting to pile up.

Jackson has already suffered knee, groin and finger injuries, as well as a concussion. He's not the most reckless quarterback in the league, but he likes to get out of the pocket, and his athleticism and arm strength make him a more dangerous player when he does that.

It also opens him up to more hits, and that doesn't appear to be helping him much.

More should be known about Jackson's injury after a Saturday evening practice in Mankato.

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Latest NFL Photos
Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox misses a catch during NFL football training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Latest NFL Images

    Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox misses a catch during NFL football training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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    Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith, left, talks with offensive coordinator Ron Turner during NFL football training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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    Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Byron Leftwich passes during workouts at the team's NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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    Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman fades back to pass during the team's NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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    Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Marc Dile, center, throws defensive tackle Roy Miller (93) to the ground during drills during the team's NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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    Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Elbert Mack (33) intercepts a pass intended for tight end Jason Piciask (84) during the team's NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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    Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, left, and head coach Raheem Morris watch workouts during the team's NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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    San Francisco 49ers running back Glen Coffee takes a handoff from quarterback Damon Huard during NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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    San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill throws during NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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    San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks Shaun Hill, left, and Alex Smith go through drills during NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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