ESPN NFL

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota safety Willie Offord will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury that puts a big dent in the secondary depth and takes away the Vikings' special teams captain.

	Offord

Offord's left knee got caught in the Metrodome's artificial grass while covering a kickoff in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against New Orleans. Offord, who started at strong safety, re-entered the game and aggravated the injury. An MRI test Monday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament which will likely require surgery, trainer Chuck Barta said.

"He was playing really well," defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell said.

Compounding the loss of Offord is the status of starting free safety Darren Sharper, who missed Sunday's game with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Though Sharper was disappointed with the way he felt following some morning running Monday, coach Mike Tice said Sharper should play this week at Atlanta.

"It's just not where I want it to be, but I've still got five, six days," Sharper said.

If Sharper can't play, Corey Chavous would probably return to his regular strong safety spot, with 11-year veteran Ken Irvin starting at free safety. Will Hunter could be elevated from the practice squad to provide depth. Rookie Dustin Fox, Minnesota's third-round draft pick from Ohio State, is on injured reserve with a broken left arm.

Nickel cornerback Brian Williams has the same injury as Sharper, suffered Sunday against the Saints. He'll be re-evaluated Wednesday. Same goes for defensive end Kenechi Udeze, who strained his left knee, and defensive end Lance Johnstone, who injured his chest muscle.

The Vikings have their bye next week, perhaps giving some of these players an extra chance to heal and return at full strength for the final three-quarters of the season.

But it's never a good time to be dealing with defensive injuries when the Falcons and the fast feet of quarterback Michael Vick are on the schedule.

"He's a nightmare," Cottrell said.

Linebacker E.J. Henderson, who missed the New Orleans game with a sprained right ankle, is progressing and should return to practice this week.

Wide receiver Nate Burleson, who also sat out against the Saints, is getting better, but he'll probably miss another game with a sprained ligament in his left knee and take advantage of the bye to get an extra week of rest.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press