Vikings discuss 'nightmare' of losing Williamses on D-line

Together, they draw the bulk of the attention from opposing offensive lines, making life much easier on the outside for Allen, who has 11 sacks.

With the Williamses suspended and end Brian Robison, who occasionally moves inside for the nickel package, not practicing after having athroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday, Minnesota was left with Wyms, Fred Evans and Letroy Guion at tackle.

The Vikings signed Jimmy Kennedy, a former first-round draft pick who didn't pan out in St. Louis, Chicago or Jacksonville, on Wednesday to add some depth.

"Those guys are dying to play," coach Brad Childress said. "Unfortunately, if they play, they're going to play because of a misfortune to somebody else. But that's no different than a Napoleon Harris stepping in for E.J. Henderson."

Kevin Williams was promoted to defensive captain nine games ago when Henderson, a budding star at middle linebacker, was lost for the season with a toe injury.

Actually, Allen said, the loss of Henderson early in the season showed the unit that it can handle adversity.

"Unfortunately we're used to having big blows. Losing E.J. was huge earlier this year," Allen said. "That's part of football. We all know that. We can win. We have a good defensive scheme. We really do."

Wyms and Evans have 12 tackles between them this season and the 21-year-old Guion, a fifth-round draft pick out of Florida State, is the youngest player on the team.

"Pat and Kevin are great defensive tackles and we will miss them," Evans said. "But at the same time, we have a great defensive line and a great defensive line coach in coach Karl Dunbar, so we'll just stick to what we do and keep it going."

They will have to. The Vikings hold a one-game lead over Chicago in the NFC North. The Williamses will miss games at Detroit and Arizona and home against Atlanta and the New York Giants.

Even though Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper's job figures to be easier Sunday without the two big fellas staring him right in the face, he still felt for two friends he got to know well during his time in Minnesota.

"That's very unfortunate for both of those guys," Culpepper said. "They're both dear friends of mine, and I hate that for them because I would love to compete against them. My thoughts are definitely with them, and hopefully they handle their situations the right way and I know they will."