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          NFL Nation

          BBAO: Another injury for John Carlson

          • Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2012, 07:50 AM ET
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              Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. You can follow him via Twitter @SeifertESPN.
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          We're Black and Blue All Over:

          It was a busy Tuesday at the Minnesota Vikings' training camp, from Adrian Peterson recounting a scary allergic reaction that landed him in the hospital and owner Zygi Wilf telling reporters that he wants to contend for the NFC North title. But the most significant event might have been the sprained MCL suffered by tight end John Carlson, an injury that will probably keep him from practicing for a few weeks.

          (More from Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.)

          Sprained knees are commonplace in the NFL, but it's particularly notable for Carlson because it extends a rough stretch of injuries that began in the 2010 playoffs. He suffered a serious concussion against the Chicago Bears in the divisional round while playing for the Seattle Seahawks, and then missed all of the 2011 season because of a shoulder injury.

          The injuries aren't related, but when an oft-injured player suffers a new ailment early in training camp, it makes you wonder if he has simply hit a stretch of bad luck or if his body isn't holding up. Time will tell on that one.

          Continuing around the NFC North:

          • Peterson said that he called athletic trainer Eric Sugarman when he began feeling ill Monday, and Sugarman soon administered an ephedrine shot to ease his breathing. More from Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

          • For what it's worth, I don't think Vikings coach Leslie Frazier needs to win the NFC North in order to retain his job. Wilf said he has "no benchmarks" for Frazier's continued employment, according to Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune, but said: "I expect to be division champs. I want to be able to fight for the division as we always do every year, and get better for years to come. That’s always been our goal. That’s been the goal since the first day I came here."

          • Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best on his daily routine, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "Just waiting."

          • Lions place-kicker Jason Hanson was surprised and irritated when rookie kicker Derek Dimke referred to him as "sir" this summer, writes Rod Beard of the Detroit News.

          • Fullback James Bryant was ready to start hitting people when the Lions put full pads on, notes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.

          • Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler appreciates that offensive coordinator Mike Tice has listened to some of his ideas, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

          • The Bears are still about their defense, writes Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Tribune. Mulligan: "Fun as it may be to pretend the Bears are undergoing a sudden and violent insurrection on offense -- a quarterback-led coup featuring aerial strength, the marshaling of ground forces and (gasp) something called the audible -- the simple truth is the Bears require significantly less to be successful this season. Think evolution more than revolution."

          • New defensive lineman Brian Price struggled in his first practice with the Bears, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.

          • Competition for the Green Bay Packers' right cornerback spot is fierce, confirms Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

          • The Packers are satisfied with their youth and depth at safety, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

          • Packers tight end Jermichael Finley said he suffered a concussion last Thursday when his helmet came off and he hit his chin on the ground. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.