Dejected Booty can still develop

John David Booty knows he won't be getting extensive work as a member of the Vikings practice squad, but the quarterback also realizes being on that unit beats the potential alternative.

"It is hard [to get reps] but it's much easier than being at the house and not even being involved in football and meetings and all those things," Booty said Monday. "As far as your mind goes, you can stay sharp. I'll have to get some extra work after practice and throw [to] just targets and things like that. But as far as the mental aspect of it, you're still staying in the book and in the film room."

Booty was added to the practice squad Sunday, a day after being placed on waivers by the Vikings and two days after struggling in a preseason loss to Dallas.

"No question about it," Booty said when asked if he was disappointed by the demotion. "I think we shouldn't be out here if we weren't disappointed about that. You [devote] your whole offseason and camp and preseason to making that club and for that not to happen it is disappointing. But I am happy to still be a part of it."

Coach Brad Childress said Booty will be able to develop because he will be part of the process when the game plan is installed and will be in on meetings.

Booty, a fifth-round pick in 2008 out of Southern California, admitted he was surprised he didn't get claimed by another team. He did say his agent received a few calls from other clubs that were interested in signing him to their practice squad.

"I've already got a place here, I've been here for a year and a half and I just want to get better at the West Coast offense," Booty said about staying with the Vikings. "There was really no need for me to go anywhere else, even if there was an opportunity. I enjoy it here, I like the coaches and the team and good things can still happen here."

There could be a court ruling this week regarding the NFL's potential four-game suspensions of Kevin and Pat Williams but right now the Vikings' defensive tackles are preparing as if they will play Sunday in the regular-season opener in Cleveland.

And that almost certainly will be the case.

Three judges from the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard from both sides in the case on Aug. 17 and the panel's chairwoman, Judge Diana Murphy, said they would rule in "due time, keeping in mind the start of the season."

But even if the judges rule against the Williamses this week, it doesn't mean there will be closure. That's because the losing side is likely to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. "It's an unknown," Childress said of the case. The Williamses were suspended last December for violating the NFL's anti-doping policy.

• Safety Madieu Williams did not practice Monday because of a stomach virus. Williams was among the starters who did not play Friday and he left the sideline during the game to get an IV. Defensive end Brian Robison, who suffered a back injury Friday, was on the field.

• Jackson worked on holding for field-goal attempts after practice. He likely will be the emergency holder in case something happens to Chris Kluwe.

• Cornerback Asher Allen has switched from No. 30 to No. 21, which had been worn by Marcus McCauley. Allen said that was his number in high school. Center Kory Lichtensteiger, who was claimed off waivers from Denver, will wear No. 67.

• Center Jon Cooper, who was waived by the Vikings on Sunday in order to make room for Lichtensteiger, was signed to the team's practice Monday. The Vikings waived tackle Drew Radovich off the practice squad in order to make room for Cooper.

• The Vikings are the eighth-oldest team in the NFL with an average age of 27.48 years, according to ESPN.com. The Washington Redskins are the oldest team (average age 28.02).