Chicago's Greg Olsen provided one of the starkest examples against the Vikings a month ago, when he had a season-high six catches for 74 yards and a first-quarter touchdown. The Bears went on to win the wild, back-and-forth game 48-41 at Soldier Field.

Another big play by opposing tight ends that stands out this season is the grab that Tampa Bay's Jerramy Stevens had on second and 25 from the Vikings' 32. His catch got the Bucs to the 1-yard line and set up B.J. Askew's third-quarter touchdown run that tied the score 13-13. The Buccaneers went on to win 19-13.

On some plays to the tight ends, such as many of Olsen's catches, it appeared the Vikings were content to give up a play as long as it didn't lead to big yards after the catch.

"It's just like basketball. Would you rather give up a three or a two?" Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said. "We'd rather give up a two any day. If you've got a deep threat in (Devin) Hester to get down the field, we don't want to give up the deep bomb. That's a big momentum swing. If they catch some underneath routes for 10, 12 yards, as long as they don't run very far after the catch and we make good tackles, we'll live to play another down."

Olsen is a threat for Sunday's game at the Metrodome because he's athletic and fast and has good hands. Leber said the Vikings would focus on controlling the Bears' tight ends and rookie running back Matt Forte.

The Bears aren't afraid to line up their tight ends in unconventional spots, sometimes out wide like a receiver, sometimes next to the tackle in a traditional manner and sometimes elsewhere. That can create mismatches.

"They displace them and make you find them and account for them," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "(What) that generally does is it makes you play regular personnel with your regular defense and linebackers."

Olsen leads the Bears in receiving yards with 391 and ranks second in catches with 33. He's on pace to become just the third Bears tight end to lead the team in receiving yards; Emery Moorehead did it in 1982, and Mike Ditka did it from 1961-63.

Another Chicago tight end, Desmond Clark, has 30 catches for 295 yards this season. Clark is listed as questionable because of a knee injury and has been limited in practice the past two days after being sidelined Wednesday.

Hicks' status uncertain: Right tackle Artis Hicks was limited in practice Friday because of an elbow injury. His status for Sunday's game will be a game-time decision.

"We'll just see where he's at before the game," Childress said. "It's mostly up to his pain threshold and what he can tolerate and what he can't."

Ryan Cook, demoted before last week's Jacksonville game, would regain his place in the starting lineup if Hicks can't play. Childress said Cook's confidence isn't a problem.

"You have to keep your sword sharp because you just never know," Childress said.

Injury update: Defensive tackle Letroy Guion is listed as doubtful with an ankle injury he suffered earlier this week in practice. Linebacker David Herron (shoulder), linebacker Vinny Ciurciu (hand) and tight end Garrett Mills (ankle) are questionable.

Defensive end Jared Allen and free safety Madieu Williams are battling shoulder injuries but are expected to start. They're listed as probable.

For the Bears, cornerback Nathan Vasher (hand) is out. Receiver Marty Booker (knee) and fullback Jason McKie (quadriceps) are questionable. Safety Mike Brown (calf), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (rest) and linebacker Jamar Williams (groin) are probable.

Briefly: Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield, on trailing in fan voting for the Pro Bowl: "It's frustrating, but it's nothing I can control. All I can do is go out and play hard."

Special-teams coach Paul Ferraro said he's impressed with rookie Darius Reynaud's abilities on kick returns. Reynaud hesitated on his first kick return at Jacksonville, Ferraro said, but he should learn from that mistake.

"You can do that at West Virginia and get away with it," Ferraro said. "He understands that, and I think you'll see him hit it up in there this week."

Sean Jensen contributed to this report.