Childress: Favre and I are 'on the same page'

According to Vikings coach Brad Childress, his relationship with quarterback Brett Favre is fine, despite their animated sideline conversation during Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Panthers.

Childress suggested having Favre sit it out in the second half when the Vikings were struggling but still leading 7-6 and the quarterback had been taking a pounding from the Panthers' pass rush. Favre declined the offer to grab some bench.

"I think we're both on the same page," Childress said on a Wednesday morning conference call with Chicago-area media. "He hasn't been a distraction or divisive. I'm always animated when I speak. I don't know if it's my Italian blood or not; I speak with my hands."

Childress originally downplayed the conversation, while Favre called it a "heated discussion." Favre has since said, "I think it's all resolved. He and I have talked."

Childress said he doesn't have a problem with his quarterback's candid comments.

"He's an emotional football player," the coach said. "It's part of his makeup that makes him good. I understand he's Brett Favre, sometimes bigger than life in terms of what gets said and what gets talked about. But he's a good team player here. I have nothing but admiration and respect, as does our whole football team."

Good luck: Offensive left tackle Chris Williams has the unenviable task this week of facing Vikings pass-rush terror Jared Allen for the first time.

Allen is second in the NFL with 13½ sacks, and he's been especially destructive against the Bears, with at least 2 sacks in each of the previous three meetings, for a total of 6½. Last year he abused John St. Clair and, in the first meeting this year, he handled Orlando Pace and then Kevin Shaffer, after Pace suffered the groin injury that has kept him sidelined since then.

"It should be a tough matchup for Chris all day long over there," said quarterback Jay Cutler, whose blind side Williams will be protecting. "But that's his job. That's what he's got to do. We've got to help him and put some guys on him and get some chip (blocks). That's what you have to do against a defensive end of his caliber."

The Bears didn't do that last time, and Allen spent too much time in their backfield. Williams missed Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury but is expected back today.

Injury update: Linebacker Lance Briggs (lower back), offensive tackle Chris Williams (ankle), safeties Al Afalava (ankle) and Kevin Payne (ankle) and tight end Desmond Clark (ill) did not participate in Wednesday's practice inside the Walter Payton Center. All are expected to play Monday night.

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee), wide receiver Devin Hester (calf) and offensive tackle Orlando Pace (groin) all practiced but were limited.