TAMPA - Whoever carries the Football for the Bucs on Sunday against Minnesota will be determined to reverse a disturbing three-game trend.

After boasting one of the league's most productive ground attacks through six weeks, Tampa Bay's running game has stalled, and the Vikings specialize in neutralizing opposing rushers.

"It'll be a challenge, and it'll be an all-day battle," Bucs G Davin Joseph said. "They've got a talented defensive line, big, physical guys, and they've been doing it for a while. To get our inside running game going will be a challenge. We know they're tough, but you run your offense and you do what you do best. At the end of the day, somebody's going to have success."

With DTs Pat Williams and Kevin Williams clogging the middle, the Vikings have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league since 2006.

In the past three games, as a flurry of injuries hit their backfield, the Bucs are averaging only 2.7 yards per carry.

"They've got big guys in the middle and some pretty good pass rushers on the edge," Bucs C Jeff Faine said. "The onus is definitely on us this week and we have to make some things happen up front. It's very, very important to get our running game going Sunday."

INJURY UPDATE: WR Maurice Stovall, inactive the past three games after hurting his hamstring against Carolina, is out for the season after being placed on injured reserve Wednesday. Stovall caught three passes this season and has scored only one TD in 29 career games since being selected in the third round of the 2006 draft.

"It's unfortunate," Coach Jon Gruden said of Stovall's injury-shortened year. "We had high aspirations for him this season."

Thin at WR, Tampa Bay promoted Brian Clark from the practice squad. The former Chamberlain High standout has one reception and one kickoff return this season in three games.

Gruden said S Jermaine Phillips continues to progress from a forearm injury and could return in the next few weeks. TE Alex Smith, who hurt his ankle at Kansas City while catching the 2-point conversion pass that sent the game into OT, also did not participate at Wednesday's practice.

A NEW BEGINNING: Bucs QB Jeff Garcia, benched after a Week 1 loss at New Orleans, says his relationship with Gruden has improved markedly since he regained the starting job.

"It's definitely better than where it was the first few weeks," said Garcia, whose 68.5 percent completion rate ranks third in the NFL behind Arizona's Kurt Warner and Brett Favre of the Jets. "Like men, we have grown from it and we've gotten past it. There's an open line of communication at all times."

BUC BITS: The Bucs signed LB Marc Mangro to the practice squad ? After struggling early following his trade from Kansas City to Minnesota, Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen tops the Vikings with eight sacks and 30 QB hurries.

Ira Kaufman

Photo: Davin Joseph

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