


Wright caught three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 11, hauling in the Vikings' longest reception of the year (54 yards) while Harvin sat out with a sprained ankle.


When asked later if that meant he still considered Wright the team's fifth receiver, Frazier said: "He made some nice plays for us, for sure. We're going to figure out ways to use his talents. He's shown he can make plays. You want playmakers on the field."


There's little question Wright helped pick up the passing game on a day when Ponder hit a season-high 10 receivers (including himself, on a deflected pass) and threw for 221 yards in the 34-24 win. The 5-foot-10 Wright saw time in Harvin's normal slot position, including one play he turned into a 54-yard reception, but also lined up wide on a handful of snaps.

"I've taken a lot more reps inside," Wright said. "But at the same time, I think it's because they know I can play that outside position already if they need me. So they want to get me ready for the inside, where all the physical linebackers and safeties are."

Running back Adrian Peterson had said Friday that he hoped Harvin's absence would be a "blessing in disguise" and help Ponder find different receivers. Frazier admitted Monday that with Harvin being such a focal point of the passing game, the offense had become "a little stagnant and predictable."

"We needed Christian to understand the importance of moving (the ball) to different people because of what defenses are doing," Frazier said. "(It was) not so much because of Percy's absence; it was something we were emphasizing all throughout (the week), and we're going to continue to emphasize it the rest of this season."


His best chance to stay on the field probably will be by differentiating himself from Harvin, unless the Vikings believe he's better suited to line up wide than either Jenkins or Simpson.


"If we feel like that's going to give us the best chance to succeed, we'll find a way to get both of them on the field and utilize their gifts," Frazier said.

Up next: at Bears, noon Nov. 25, KMSP Channel 9

Follow Ben Goessling at twitter.com/BenGoesslingPP