"At 2-9 and fading fast, the Vikings can afford to rest some key players - such as running back Adrian Peterson, who will miss his second consecutive start Sunday because of a high ankle sprain.

But for the sake of rookie quarterback Christian Ponder's confidence and development, the Vikings simply can't afford to lose wide receiver Percy Harvin, who is questionable after missing Friday's practice with an illness.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Harvin is expected to play Sunday against Denver, but if he can't, Ponder would be throwing to a wide receiver corps with a combined 13 catches on the year.

Current No. 2 Devin Aromashodu has nine catches for 213 yards, followed by Greg Camarillo with four catches for 62 yards and rookie Stephen Burton, who has yet to record an NFL catch.

Michael Jenkins, the team's leader with three touchdown catches, is on injured reserve with a torn meniscus.

"Please, please, please. Let's not go down that road," Frazier said. "We need No. 12 out there."

Frazier said Harvin's illness is not related to the migraine headaches that plagued the team's leading receiver through his first two seasons in the league.

"(The trainers) told me we're evaluating the situation," Frazier said. "Everything that's been indicated to me is that he'll be fine and it's nothing like we've experienced in the past." "