Minicamp is latest step in Udeze's comeback

Defensive end Kenechi Udeze said he never doubted that he would play football again even though he faced a long, painful road to recovery from his fight against cancer.

"I'd be lying if I said it was easy," he said. "There was never an easy point. The first time I went back to USC and started working out with the fellas, I fell. I took two steps and I fell. I took small steps at first and, to where I am now, I can't complain."

Udeze's remarkable comeback continued Friday when he took part in the Vikings mandatory minicamp, which runs through Sunday. Udeze missed all of last season while battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which included a bone marrow transplant in July.

Udeze is participating fully in drills, although he admits he still has hurdles to clear physically.

"My weight is a little bit heavier than it was before [listed previously at 281 pounds]," he said. "It's a lot because the neuropathy will pretty much slow you down from doing just about anything. When it sets in, your feet start getting really numb and really sensitive, and it's really hard to ... especially at the level that we're at out here. For the most part, I can't complain. I saw where I came from Day 1, and where I am now. I know I'll get better with time."

Udeze said he took four or five naps a day after being released from the hospital following his bone marrow transplant, but he does not nap now. He also said he had a biopsy four days ago.

"That's where they go in and take a little piece of your bone marrow and it hurts the day after," he said. "Like I said, I've seen children deal with what I'm dealing with. And if they can deal with it, then I shouldn't make any complaints."

Coach Brad Childress said last week that it's still too early to determine how much Udeze will contribute this season, but Udeze said he expects to be 100 percent by training camp.

"I'm still miles away from where I was before compared to other guys out here," he said. "I'm not in the same playing field now. But that's what I'm striving to and that's what I'm working to. Until today, until the first game, that's what I'm getting to."

Said linebacker Ben Leber: "It really truly is an inspiration to have him back out here. It's a great testament to his character."

Childress said he wanted to "set the record straight" in regards to comments defensive tackle Pat Williams made about quarterback Tarvaris Jackson last week on Sirius NFL Radio.

"You have to put in more time than what he's doing," Williams said.

Childress defended Jackson's work ethic and said Williams meant no disrespect with his comments.

"Tarvaris Jackson is one of hardest-working guys you are going to find in this 85-man roster right now," Childress said. "Just in terms of the time he spends here, the time he spends in the books, with the wide receivers, in the weight room, strength and conditioning. There's very few people that work as hard as he does in the offseason.

"I think if you guys know Pat, you guys that cover him on a frequent basis, I listen to Pat talk to Tarvaris about that since Tarvaris has been here. And so I'm not sure that his comments -- cast as criticism -- he might say the same thing to me."

Childress said Williams sought him out to talk about it because he "felt poorly about it."

• Jackson and Sage Rosenfels split reps at quarterback Friday. Childress said he has not had any recent contact with retired quarterback Brett Favre or Favre's agent, Bus Cook, since last week when Childress discussed the situation.

• A federal judge denied a request by the NFL Players Association to put the suspensions of Kevin and Pat Williams and three other players on hold while their legal case is being appealed. That decision, however, does not affect the Williamses because two claims in their separate lawsuit over the use of a banned diuretic have been sent back to state court, which has granted them a stay on their suspensions.