With Williams hurt, Vikings look at other safeties

Johnson has missed practice this week, too, because of sore abdominal muscles. He said he'll play in Saturday's exhibition game at Baltimore.

Two other safeties under scrutiny are Eric Frampton and Michael Boulware.

Boulware was on the rise with Seattle as a rookie and converted linebacker in 2004, but he lost his starting job in 2006. Last year, he was relegated to special teams after a trade to Houston.

Boulware has been behind Frampton on the depth chart, but he intercepted a pass from Gus Frerotte during team drills in Tuesday's practice and returned it for a de facto touchdown. He said he's found the Vikings' scheme refreshing, because it doesn't require as much thinking. Staying focused was one of his downfalls with the Seahawks.

"My guard is still up. Can it be this easy? Can my responsibilities be this easy? That's the biggest thing: Just relaxing and playing," Boulware said.

Childress praised Boulware for playing faster, without as much "gear grinding or smoke coming out of his ears." The coach also noted Boulware's ability to communicate on the field.

Frampton, who joined the Vikings in October, has the same extraverted style. That serves a safety well.

"If you're talking, you know what you're doing. You just call it out," Frampton said. "I could imagine it makes the coaches a little bit more comfortable, but it makes me a little bit more comfortable calling it out and making sure everybody's on the same page."

Drafted by Oakland, Frampton spent five games with Detroit last fall before coming to Minnesota during a whirlwind rookie year. His primary value is on special teams, but his role could expand on defense.

"By the end of the year, I knew it pretty well," Frampton said. "This is a new year, and I can apply that."