Mistral Raymond could return to action this Sunday in Seattle. The Vikings' second-year safety has missed the past 5 1/2 games after dislocating his right ankle in a Sept. 23 victory over San Francisco.
Raymond has been back practicing the past two weeks, participating mostly in individual work. This week, he will be integrated back into full-team activities, with the Vikings medical staff and coach Leslie Frazier closely monitoring his recovery.
"I'm available," Raymond said. "But, to what extent they want to use me, what role they'll have me in, that's totally up to the coaching staff."
Said Frazier: "We need to get him through an entire week of practice. We're going to give him a little bit more this week and then we'll make a decision later in the week. But all indications are that he's improved enough where he can go through everything in practice."
Frazier was noncommittal on whether Raymond would immediately return to the starting lineup, replacing Jamarca Sanford, if he was cleared to play. But Frazier has said in recent weeks that Raymond would become a starter again once he's 100 percent.
Wilson next Vikings defensive end Brian Robison gave Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson an enormous compliment Monday. Robison described Wilson -- the rookie out of Wisconsin -- as a combination of fellow rookies Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck.
The Vikings will be facing their third heralded rookie quarterback of the season when they travel to Seattle for Sunday's game. And the first two -- against Luck in Indianapolis Week 2 and against Griffin in Washington Week 6 -- were both losses.
"It's just the things [Wilson] can do with his legs and his arms," Robison said. "Just his smarts. He's always looking downfield for guys. That's what he wants to do, make plays in the passing game. But if he has to tuck it and run, he has the wheels to do it."
