Atlanta at Minnesota

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings once again have lost receiver Jake Reed to an injury and also may not start Pro Bowl defensive lineman John Randle in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

	Before injuries derailed him this year, Reed had four consecutive seasons of at least 1,100 yards receiving.

Reed was ruled inactive Friday for the game against the Atlanta Falcons. He injured a hamstring in last weekend's win over Arizona, his first game after missing five weeks with a back injury.

Reed had little impact in the 41-21 victory over the Cardinals, and the Vikings have averaged better than 41 points in the six games since he had back surgery in late November.

Second-year receiver Matthew Hatchette, who filled in capably while Reed was out during the regular season, will move into the third receiver role behind Pro Bowl selections Cris Carter and Randy Moss.

Randle said Friday that his hyperextended left knee is still bothering him enough that he might not start against Atlanta.

"I guess Stalin Colinet will play probably the first quarter, the second quarter, and maybe I'll just kind of work myself into the game. I may play some nickel situations in the first quarter. It just depends on the situation," Randle said.

Randle, the Vikings sack leader with 10.5, hasn't missed a start since Nov. 22, 1992, a string of 107 consecutive games. He injured his knee on the final play of Minnesota's 41-21 playoff victory over Arizona last Sunday.

Randle missed practice Wednesday and wore a knee brace during practices Thursday and Friday.

Another Minnesota starter, free safety Orlando Thomas, has been limited in practice this week because of a hamstring injury but also is expected to play.

Thomas is only about 80 percent healthy and estimated Thursday that he would need to reach 90 percent to be able to play Sunday.

The Vikings' other inactives Friday included one mild surprise. Backup linebacker Kivuusama Mays, a rookie who has been a key special teams player, was scratched. So were fourth-string quarterback Todd Bouman and reserve offensive lineman Chris Liwienski.