With Moon Hurt, Johnson to Start

Warren Moon was unable to practice Friday, which means Brad Johnson will get the first start of his NFL career when the Minnesota Vikings play at Atlanta Sunday.

The Vikings will wait until just before game time to decide whether Moon or No. 3 quarterback Jay Walker will be Johnson’s primary backup. Moon is recovering from ankle and foot injuries.

“He’s just not ready,” Coach Dennis Green said. “You’ve got to be able to go on the field and defend yourself. We don’t think he can do that right now.”

The Vikings seem unwilling to risk further injury to Moon in a non-divisional game, with NFC Central rivals Chicago and Green Bay waiting the next two weekends.

“We’re hopeful that when we go play Chicago next week on the grass that Warren will be able to go,” Green said.

Moon has missed only one start in three seasons, the 1994 season finale, and Sean Salisbury started that game.

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Chicago Bear running back Rashaan Salaam will sit out his second consecutive game because of a knee injury. Salaam sprained the knee during the Bears’ final exhibition game against Kansas City on Aug. 22.