EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday to determine what is causing the weakness and numbness in his left leg.
Simpson, who played in a limited capacity Sunday, woke up with the unexplained injury and went to the Metrodome to meet with the team. Simpson tried to play and was one of five active receivers, but ended not being able to finish. A day later, the team was still trying to figure what was causing the issue.
"We think there could possibly be something connected to the back, as well as the leg," coach Leslie Frazier said.
Simpson caught four passes for 50 yards in Week 4 after coming off a three-game suspension to open the season. He worked out for the team before Sunday's Week 5 game and was deemed available to play, but he couldn't shake the weakness in the leg. He had zero catches on three targets.
"Yeah, just woke up in the morning with numbness, some weakness," Frazier said. "Fine when he was walking, but just had a little trouble pushing off on it. We were hoping as time went on he would regain that feeling during the course of the game. In talking to the doctors, they felt like that was possible. And it did get a little bit better, but not to the point where he felt completely comfortable."
Frazier said he's hopeful it won't be a long-term problem, though he won't know for certain until more tests are completed.
"We'll learn more as we go through the day," Frazier said. "From everything I've been told we shouldn't be afraid to the point we're going to lose him for a long period of time. But everything's not conclusive as we speak."
The Vikings had what Frazier called "a big package" planned for Simpson in Sunday's game, a 30-7 win against the Tennessee Titans which kept Minnesota (4-1) tied for the lead in the NFC North. The team dressed five receivers, a plan to make sure it would be covered if Michael Jenkins was limited, after dealing with a rib injury during the week. Stephen Burton was activated and rookie Jarius Wright was the one receiver deactivated.
Frazier said he first heard of Simpson's leg problem from a text sent by head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman before coming to the Metrodome. The team's medical staff determined Simpson wasn't going to be in jeopardy if he tried to play through the injury.
Simpson didn't report any problems to the team until before Sunday's game and there were no indications previously of an injury with the leg.
"This has never happened to him before," Frazier said. "This was completely new to him. So as you can imagine it scared him, had him alarmed. But we'll learn more over the course of the day."
Frazier confirmed a "mild ankle sprain" for Adrian Peterson during Sunday's game and said the starting running back could be limited during the week to make sure he's ready for next Sunday's game at Washington. Peterson played through the injury, which is on the same left leg that he had major knee surgery on in December, and finished with 88 yards on 17 carries.
"Played through it, did a great job, had a very good football game for us, running with such authority, able to break tackles like he did throughout the game, even though he was a little bit hobbled with that ankle," Frazier said. "We don't think there is anything that will keep him from playing this next ball game. He should be fine going forward."
Frazier said he expects to get safety Andrew Sendejo (ankle) and linebacker Marvin Mitchell (calf) back to practice when the team resumes on Wednesday. Quarterback Christian Ponder, who is dealing with a sore right knee, is expected to be OK, as well. Ponder called it "kind of a bursa sac" injury following Sunday's game and said he didn't feel limited at all.
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