Vikings notes: Jennings vows to play on Sunday

Greg Jennings says he won't miss a game against his former team.

The Vikings receiver practiced for the first time this week on Thursday after he was a late scratch in Sunday's loss at Seattle because of an Achilles' tendon injury.

Jennings was a limited participant on Thursday but says he'll be ready to face the Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

"Oh, I'm going," Jennings said. "Unless the Lord does something different, has a different game plan and delays this … I will be at Lambeau dressed and ready to go."

Jennings downplayed the situation as just another road game but admitted Sunday's contest will carry a different meaning.

"I'll be used to the field, locker room will be a little different, but a change of scenery is always good," Jennings said.

Jennings, who spent seven seasons with the Packers, had only one catch for 9 yards during his first meeting against his former team on Oct. 27 at the Metrodome.

Safety Harrison Smith said he expects to return to practice next week and he hopes to play in the final three games.

Smith was placed on injured reserve/designed to return after suffering a turf toe injury. He chose to rest and rehab his left foot instead of having surgery. He said he is scheduled to have another MRI soon to confirm that his foot is making adequate progress.

Smith can't officially practice until next week.

"It's amazing how out of shape you can get in a few weeks," he said. "So I'm just getting my cardio back up and making sure that I can make all the movements I need.''

Smith is not eligible to play in a game until Dec. 15 against Philadelphia. With the Vikings at 2-8, he was asked if he's considered taking the rest of the season to recover.

Coach Leslie Frazier isn't sure whether Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson will play against the Packers, because of a personal issue. Henderson missed his second consecutive practice on Thursday.

Linebacker Audie Cole — cut, then re-signed, two weeks ago — would likely start in Henderson's place because linebacker Michael Mauti (knee) has been limited this week. Mauti, a rookie who had three knee surgeries at Penn State, banged his knee on the turf against the Seahawks.

"We got [Mauti] some practice time at the Mike [middle] position last week more than we had in the past, and he did a good job with some of the things we put on his shoulders," Frazier said. "You can see he's going to have a chance when his time comes. He's got to get a little bit stronger and more confidence in that knee."

Frazier said Cole is capable of playing middle linebacker in nickel packages, but Marvin Mitchell is also capable of the responsibility as well.

• Center John Sullivan wasn't cleared to practice on Thursday and his availability for Sunday's game against the Packers is in doubt. Frazier said Sullivan must clear and practice on Friday in order to play. If Sullivan doesn't pass the NFL protocol on concussion-related injuries, Joe Berger would start.