EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- If the Vikings were hoping for defensive backs Chris Cook and Jamarca Sanford to make a quick recovery from injury and show they were ready to play on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, the early signs on Friday didn't look good.

Both Cook (who has a hip muscle strain) and Sanford (who has a groin injury) were out of practice; Cook was working on the side with trainer Eric Sugarman, while Sanford was not on the field. Tight end Rhett Ellison, defensive tackle Fred Evans and running back Matt Asiata also were not practicing while reporters were allowed to watch, and wide receiver Greg Jennings was limited with a knee injury. When coach Leslie Frazier announces injuries later today, it appears he'll have a long list to run through, and many of them will involve key positions for a team getting ready to face one of the league's top offenses.

Christian Ponder was still taking first-team snaps at quarterback on Friday, and all signs continue to point to him starting on Sunday in Dallas. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings explain the move, if they are indeed sticking with Ponder and not going back to Josh Freeman. Both Frazier and general manager Rick Spielman are scheduled to address reporters today.