Dec 3rd 2008 7:45PM by Bruce Ciskie (author feed)
Filed under: Vikings, NFC North

KSTP-TV in Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Star Tribune (via PFT) are reporting an off-field victory for the Minnesota Vikings.

Hennepin County District Court Judge Gary Larson has granted a temporary restraining order against the NFL. The order effectively halts the four-game suspensions against defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams for the use of a banned diuretic. The two took their situation to court Wednesday after the NFL announced their suspensions some 24 hours earlier.

While this ruling does allow both players to return to the Vikings’ practice facility in Eden Prairie, it doesn’t lock them into being available for Sunday’s game against the winless Detroit Lions. According to both Twin Cities reports, Larson is going to schedule a more extensive hearing for the next few days, and the NFL could conceivably appeal the judge’s order.

So far, there has been no word of any attempts by the other four suspended players to take similar action.

The Vikings signed sixth-year pro Jimmy Kennedy Wednesday, conceivably to fill the shoes of one Williams.