Receiver Bobby Wade returned to the practice field Tuesday, declaring his sprained ankle healthy and pledging to play in the Vikings' season opener Sunday against Atlanta.

Wade suffered the injury Aug. 25 in a preseason game at Seattle and did not practice last week. Although he sat out the preseason finale Aug. 30 vs. Dallas, Wade still led the Vikings with nine receptions and 140 receiving yards during the exhibition season.

"It kind of got rolled up and aggravated a bit," Wade said. "But it couldn't have been at a better time, as far as having enough time to get back and be 100 percent. Practice went well today. I expect to practice all week and play hard Sunday."

Asked if there was any doubt he would play against the Falcons, Wade said, "No."

A new arrival

Tight end Garrett Mills went through his first workout with the Vikings as the team returned to Winter Park after four days off. Mills was claimed off waivers from New England last weekend, apparently to the dismay of Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

"I want to come out here and learn from those guys," Mills said of fellow tight ends Jim Kleinsasser and Visanthe Shiancoe. "The guys that have been in this system, that have played a few years with the Vikings. I'm just excited to learn from them."

While Mills is listed as a tight end, he also can play fullback and H-back. He was a fourth-round pick last season but did not appear in a game, spending New England's first nine contests of 2006 on the inactive list before going on injured reserve in November.

"I think the thing you like about Garrett is his ability up the field and his feel in routes," Vikings coach Brad Childress told Sirius NFL Radio on Tuesday. "He's a little bit of a 'tweener' coming out. You could see how they used him in New England. He had a good feel up the field of being able to wiggle himself open."

Belichick was hoping to sign Mills to the Patriots' practice squad and went so far as to call Childress to discuss the topic. According to Childress, Belichick offered to back away from linebacker David Herron if the Vikings would not claim Mills. Childress told a local radio station that he declined the offer.

"I don't really feel I need to comment on that," Mills said when asked for his reaction. "I have a lot of respect for Coach Belichick and [Patriots VP of Player Personnel] Scott Pioli and the whole Patriots organization. I don't know what happened but I'm here now, and that is what matters."

Etc.

• Safety Mike Doss appeared to be the only player who didn't participate in practice Tuesday during the brief period of media access following the workout. Doss (calf) had a wrap on his left leg and was wearing a baseball cap. Tank Williams, another veteran safety who has been sidelined by an undisclosed injury, had his helmet in hand and appeared to have gone through the workout.

• The introduction of Vikings players on Tuesday evening at the Mall of America replaces the team's annual Kickoff Gala. This was done in part because the Vikings will hold a banquet to honor former coach Bud Grant on Sept. 18 at the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com