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Winfield, Williamson deactivated against Chargers

The Minnesota Vikings will be forced to face the San Diego Chargers on Sunday without their best cornerback, as Antoine Winfield was deactivated for the game.

Wide receiver Troy Williamson and defensive back Mike Doss are also inactive for the Vikings, while quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is active and started, after missing last week's game due to a broken right index finger.

Winfield has been hampered by a hamstring injury that first flared up against Philadelphia last week and was tweaked during practice this week. Winfield did not practice on Thursday or Friday.

Winfield was bothered late in the year by a quad injury last season, but he played through that pain and is considered one of the toughest players on the team.

Winfield said this is the first time in his career that he has had a hamstring injury and expected that he would be a "gametime decision."

The Vikings need all the help they can get in the secondary. They are dead last in pass defense and face a Chargers offense that has improved in recent weeks, especially since the addition of receiver Chris Chambers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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