When you're 8-1, you can afford to be picky.Antoine Winfield is starting to return to practice after missing three games with a foot injury. But since the Vikings right now have a three-game lead in the NFC North, Winfield can head into the weekend knowing that he doesn't have to rush back before he's ready.
The Vikings have survived WInfield's absence better than could have been expected when he injured his foot against the Ravens. If there can be good news in an injury, it's that Karl Paymah, Benny Sapp and Asher Allen are better cornerbacks now than they were before Winfield's injury--it's forced them to take on larger roles. But when he does return, Winfield will once again immediately be the Vikings' best corner.
Winfield said that he's 85 percent certain that he'll be able to play this weekend against the Bears. But if he's not 100 percent certain he's ready to return, he should take it easy and spend another week on the inactive list. MInnesota has shown it can win regular season games without him, but it needs its Pro Bowl cornerback to be fully healthy when the playoffs arrive.
