A Minnesota judge issued a 44-page ruling Thursday on the case involving the suspensions of Vikings DTs Pat and Kevin Williams but ultimately didn’t decide whether or not their suspensions can be upheld.

Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said Saturday the team will give Brett Favre time to make a decision on whether to return, and that the team intends to sign free agent RB Chester Taylor.

Vikings DT Pat Williams (elbow) and TE Visanthe Shiancoe (thigh) are active for Sunday’s game against the Giants in a key matchup.

The Vikings will be without a key component of their fourth-ranked run defense Monday night, as DT Pat Williams was deactivated prior to the game against the Bears. Bears WR Devin Hester will miss his third straight game due to a lingering calf injury.

The Bears hope to have WR/return man Devin Hester back for Monday night’s game against the Vikings.

Teams have released their Week 14 practice participation reports for Wednesday. Here’s a look at some of the notable developments.

The NFL announced Tuesday it will defer any suspension Saints DE’s Will Smith and Charles Grant for testing positive for a banned diuretic, despite a court ruling last week that cleared the path for the league to follow through with the discipline.

The NFL has yet to make an announcement regarding the ability of Saints ends Will Smith and Charles Grant to play next week, but for now the team is proceeding as if they can.

The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals made a ruling today that could allow Vikings players Pat and Kevin Williams to play while continuing their legal battle in state court against NFL-issued suspensions. The NFL has yet to publicly determine its course of action as it relates to the ruling.

Several notable NFL players facing possible suspensions from the Starcaps case still are awaiting word from the courts and the league as to their status for Week 1.

The state court in Minnesota took another action Wednesday regarding the contended suspensions of the Minnesota Vikings star defensive tackles, halting the process there likely until after the season. But a federal court could still intervene and uphold the four-game suspensions.

The Williams Wall — Vikings DTs Pat Williams and Kevin Williams — is still waiting for closure on a pending four-game suspension from the league. But instead of dwelling on “what if,” the pair is focused on getting ready for the 2009 NFL season.

The Mike Vick watch continues, as does the Brett Favre one, plus draft picks are signing, and Kevin Williams and Pat Williams have another court hearing.

For the greater good, it’s time for Kevin Williams and Pat Williams to end their bid to avoid four-game suspensions from the NFL.

Spanning around the league on Thursday afternoon.