With the injured Antoine Winfield out for the season and Chris Cook fighting domestic abuse charges, the Vikings hired cornerback Benny Sapp to help out the sorry secondary. Sapp played for the Vikings in 2008 and 2009 before being traded to Miami.

The Vikings and Bears are expected to be without a defensive superstar on Sunday. Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield and Bears defensive end Julius Peppers are both listed as doubtful on the injury report. Winfield has a neck injury while Peppers has a sprained MCL in his left knee.

The Vikings will likely be without two starting defensive backs when they try to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers Sunday. Cornerback Antoine Winfield and safety Jamarca Sanford are listed as doubtful in the latest injury report. Center John Sullivan is also doubtful with concussion symptoms.

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield took part in full contact practice Thursday for the first time since injuring his neck nearly a month ago. He said it went well and and he hopes to play Sunday in Carolina. Head coach Leslie Frazier, however, isn't as optimistic.

Antoine Winfield missed Sunday's game against the Cardinals with a neck injury, but he's doing everything he can to get back on the field when the Vikings play at Chicago Sunday night. In an interview on KFAN radio, Winfield said he's feeling much better and put his chances of playing at 80 percent.

Antoine Winfield returned to the Vikings practice field for the first time since suffering a neck injury October 2 against the Chiefs. He was limited during Wednesday's practice and will continue to be evaluated the rest of the week. The hope is to have him play against the high powered Packers.

Percy Harvin missed practice Thursday because of a rib injury. Head coach Leslie Frazier says Harvin is dealing with sore ribs but expects him to play Sunday in Chicago. Antoine Winfield's stiff neck kept him out of practice too. His status for Sunday is in doubt.