Vikings.com staff members Mike Wobschall (@Wobby), Lindsey Young (@LindseyMNSports), Eric Smith (@EricLSmith), Chris Corso (@CCorsoVikings) and Craig Peters (@pcraigers) will provide some quick hitters on this page that will be updated throughout a busy media Wednesday at Winter Park.
We'll also have extended content and features posted elsewhere on the site.
On the docket today are podium sessions for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, as well as open locker room.
Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll and cornerback Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks will participate in conference calls with the Twin Cities media.
The Vikings will have the first practice of the week this afternoon, and both teams will release their first injury reports after practice.
In case you missed it in earlier news, Vikings DE Everson Griffen was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week Wednesday.
Follow the running log below for Wednesday's news going forward:
6:25 — A storyline to follow as the week progresses is the potential matchup of marquee running backs Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. Peterson did not participate Wednesday because of a lower back injury. Lynch, who has been sidelined since Nov. 15 and recovering from abdominal surgery, was listed as a full participant.
Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll was just asked during a conference call with Twin Cities media about Lynch's potential return to the lineup on Sunday.
"I don't know that yet, but he had a really good day today," Carroll said. "He looked just like what we remember and how he practices. He made it through the walk-throughs and all of that stuff. We'll see how he is tomorrow and we'll just do it one day at a time and see if that adds to enough of a buildup where he can play in the game. He looked very good today.
4:13 PM - The Vikings injury report has just been released after today's practice.
RB Adrian Peterson (low back), DT Kenrick Ellis (ankle), and FB Zach Line (illness) each did not particpate in practice today.
DT Linval Joseph (foot) and DE Everson Griffen (shoulder) were limited participants in practice.
WR Adam Thielen (shoulder/ low back) was a full participant in practice Wednesday.
3:48 PM - Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer has mentioned that he keeps in contact with Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, whom Zimmer use to coach under.
Parcells spoke with Dan Barreiro on KFAN 100.3 on Wednesday afternoon. The two-time Super Bowl-winning coach said he offers different kind of advice to Zimmer, who was Parcels' defensive coordinator in Dallas from 2003-06.
With the Vikings set to host Seattle at noon (CT) Sunday in a Wild Card game, Parcells said he conferred with Zimmer about how to get a team ready to play in brutally cold weather.
Parcells said the frigid temperature will be a "great equalizer."
"I'm not looking with a critical eye," Parcells said. "We've had discussions about lots of things … usually things that aren't obvious to the laymen.
"This week would be how to prepare your team to play in the elements."
1:35 PM -The Vikings are about to hit the practice fields outside with an air temperature of 34 degrees Fahrenheit and a "feels like" of 27.
Safety Harrison Smith was asked about the weather for Sunday, which has a forecast high of 0 degrees and a low of minus-9, during a conference call with Seattle media.
"If it's really as cold as it might be, that might affect the game, as far as making the ball a little slicker and things like that," Smith said. "Being a defensive guy, it's not quite as bad. You've just got to deal with the cold, but that's on both teams. Being the Vikings, we should be excited about playing out in the cold."
12:54 PM - Prior to practice today, tackle Sharrif Floyd discussed focusing on the playoffs after winning the NFC North division title:
"We got through one of the goals that we set as a team, and now we got another one. We have another goal ahead of us, and we're trying to see what we can do with it."
Floyd went on to emphasize the importance of having the right mentality heading into Sunday.
"This is going to be a huge game for us, to lock in on our keys and just do our job," Floyd said. "We can't try to do too much or get outside of who we are. Anything outside of that, we should be all right. Play ball, be confident in what we do, and that will take care of itself."
12:37 PM -The Vikings have placed Rhett Ellison on injured reserve and promoted rookie defensive end B.J. DuBose from the practice squad. Minnesota also signed DT Toby Johnson, a rookie out of Georgia, to its practice squad.
Ellison had a strong season for the Vikings, giving Minnesota the option of a three-tight end set that led to some of Adrian Peterson's best runs. Known most for his blocking, the fourth-year pro also turned in 11 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. In addition to all the dirty work, Ellison produced a 41-yard catch-and-run for the highlight reel.
The Vikings drafted DuBose in the sixth round. He spent the entirety of the regular season on the Vikings practice squad. DuBose is a former college teammate of Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville. He started 13 games as a senior, recording career highs in tackles (41), tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (4.0).
Click here for more information about the roster moves.
12:02 PM -Gearing up for Wild Card weekend, Zimmer made some observations about Seahawks QB Russell Wilson:
"[Russell] Wilson can really scramble – he's 'Fran-Tarkenton-ish.' He's throwing the ball extremely well – he's been extremely accurate on the move. He sees things, he has great vision, and he's been playing at an extremely high level."
However, Zimmer feels confident in his defense. He commented specifically on Everson Griffen, who was just named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week:
"Everson's a good player, a great person. He has a great attitude, and I think it's impressive that the team voted him as a captain coming in here because of the way he works," said Zimmer. "He had some unbelievable effort plays [against Green Bay] … when he plays like that, he's tough to handle."
11:57 AM - Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer acknowledged the effect the Vikings fans can have on the game this weekend.
11:51 AM - As he prepares for his first career playoff game, Teddy Bridgewater knows what is at stake.
While the Vikings won the NFC North championship less than a week ago, now they have bigger goals in mind.
"You can tell that the guys' focus is totally different," Bridgewater said Wednesday from Winter Park. "Coach Zimmer said something this morning in the team meeting that now we're playing for trophies and rings, not just banners.
"Hearing that, it let's you know that it's 'go time.' I walked into the facility this morning and the guys were locked in."
The Vikings host the Seattle Seahawks at noon (CT) on Sunday in a Wild Card game.
