Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said the Vikings haven't landed on using one running back on third-down entering the opener. The role previously had been held by veteran Chester Taylor, who signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent this offseason.

If the Vikings do use a rotation of backs it's possible Adrian Peterson, Albert Young and rookie Toby Gerhart will all get snaps on third down. Peterson's pass protection skills on third down remain a concern or the job likely would be his.

Young is very good in pass protection and could see the majority of the work.

PLAYER NOTES

--CB Chris Cook, who is recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee, is not practicing this week and will sit out Thursday's opener against the Saints.

--DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee) has not practiced this week and is expected to miss Thursday's game.

--RB Toby Gerhart (knee) has been limited in practice this week and his status for Thursday is uncertain.

--CB Cedric Griffin, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn left anterior cruciate ligament suffered in last season's NFC title game, is doing limited work in practice but isn't expected to play Thursday.

--S Jamarca Sanford (ankle) has been limited in practice this week but will be ready to go Thursday.

--C John Sullivan has been limited in practice after missing most of training camp because of a calf injury. It's not certain if he will play Thursday.

--QB Brett Favre has landed on the injury report after having offseason surgery to repair his left ankle but he hasn't missed any practice time.

--CB Marcus Sherels could be promoted from the practice squad for this game just to add depth.

GAME PLAN

This game presents a huge issue for a Vikings defense that as of Tuesday had only three healthy cornerbacks on its 53-man roster. Veterans Antoine Winfield and Lito Sheppard are expected to start at the left and right corner, respectively, and second-year corner Asher Allen likely will play in the nickel role.

But the Saints are capable of using four wide receivers and when that happens it remains unclear what the Vikings will do. Husain Abdullah, a little used safety who has been a special-teams contributor, might be the Vikings best cover safety and could line up against a second slot receiver in a dime package.

The Vikings also are going to have to account for Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey and running back Reggie Bush, who can catch the ball out of the back field.

It will be essential that the front four of Ray Edwards, Kevin and Pat Williams and Jared Allen get pressure on Brees and don't let him become comfortable in the pocket.

But Brees can get rid of the ball and there is no guarantee that consistent pressure is going to completely slow him down.

The Vikings offense only needs to make one big change from how it attacked the Saints in the NFC title game. And that is to hang onto the football.

Minnesota lost three fumbles and Brett Favre had two interceptions in that game. The Saints roughed up Favre but the reality was the veteran used that to his advantage, often finding wide receivers in one-on-one coverage that was created by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' decision to blitz.

Favre would welcome a few more hits if it means he can find open receivers.

The Vikings likely will look to pound the ball with Adrian Peterson, given that the more clock the offense can eat up the more time the defense can spend not worrying about the Saints offense.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Vikings RCB Lito Sheppard, who was signed as a free agent this offseason, vs. Saints WR Marques Colston, who had a team-leading 70 receptions for 1,074 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Sheppard was brought in in part to help replace Griffin, who is coming off ACL surgery. However, Sheppard did not standout in the preseason and appeared to have lost the job to second-round rookie Chris Cook. Cook suffered a knee injury in the third preseason game, giving the job back to Sheppard. The Saints are certain to be licking their chops at the potential of getting the 6-foot-4 Colston matched up against the 5-foot-10 Sheppard. Drew Brees will spend the night looking for Colston.

Vikings LB Chad Greenway, who had a career-high three interceptions last season, vs. Saints RB Reggie Bush, who caught 47 passes in 2009 to finish fifth on the team. Bush can be a matchup nightmare and it will be interesting to see if Greenway is the guy who ends up on him or how the Vikings elect to try to defend him. Greenway also could be a candidate to help cover tight end Jeremy Shockey, who had 48 receptions last season. Either way, the Vikings are going to have to be aware of more than just the wide receiver corps the Saints will put on the field.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, whose dynamic performance has been overshadowed at times by his fumbling issues, vs. Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma. Peterson fumbled twice against New Orleans in the NFC title game and also botched a handoff with Favre that resulted in a very costly turnover late in the first half. Peterson swears he has worked on his fumbling issues and has a new approach but Vilma and Co., will believe it when they see it. Until then they are going to go after the football as much as possible when it's in Peterson's hands.

INJURY IMPACT
Cornerback Chris Cook won't play and it's almost certain that Cedric Griffin will sit out as well, leaving the Vikings with three healthy corners against one of the NFL's better quarterbacks in Drew Brees. This could be a nightmare scenario. John Sullivan's lack of practice time in the preseason, and the fact he remains limited, means that second-year center Jon Cooper could get the start. Wide receiver Sidney Rice, who was Brett Favre's favorite target last season, is out for at least six weeks and probably more after having hip surgery.

UNIT BY UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS
Starter -- Brett Favre. Backups -- Tarvaris Jackson, Joe Webb.

Favre will attempt to replicate the magic of last season when he came out of retirement to play for the Vikings in mid-August and led the team to a 12-4 record, a second consecutive NFC North title and the conference championship game. Favre's 33 touchdown passes were his most since 1997 and his seven interceptions were a career low. He also posted a career-best 107.2 passer rating. Favre already has warned that it's going to be extremely difficult to do that again, and the fact he will turn 41 on Oct. 10 and has a suspect left ankle won't make it any easier. Meanwhile, Jackson appears to be the likely No. 2 quarterback again even though Rosenfels has been sharper in the preseason. Jackson held the backup role last year and clearly is the preferred choice in the eyes of coach Brad Childress. There was also the issue of the extremely athletic Webb, who made the roster following the trade of Sage Rosenfels to the Giants.

RUNNING BACKS
Starters -- Adrian Peterson, FB Naufahu Tahi. Backups -- Toby Gerhart, Albert Young.

Peterson rushed for 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and yet many were disappointed with his performance. How come? Well, part of it is Peterson's continuing issues with ball security. He has 20 fumbles (13 lost) in three regular seasons and also had two fumbles (did not lose either) in the NFC title game. Peterson took responsibility for a third that did result in a costly turnover deep in Saints territory late in the first half, although it was charged to QB Brett Favre. Peterson must show he can hang onto the football and also has to take a step forward in terms of his abilities in pass protection. Chester Taylor, who left for Chicago as a free agent in March, had been the third-down and two-minute back, but the Vikings will need Peterson to prove he can handle those roles if they are to get maximum efficiency from this position. Gerhart, a second-round pick from Stanford, appears to have a ways to go in his development, although he could end up No. 2 on the depth chart. Young could see action as the third-down guy if Peterson has issues. Asking Gerhart to play the third-down role would be putting a lot on the rookie's plate.

TIGHT ENDS
Starter -- Visanthe Shiancoe. Backups -- Jim Kleinsasser, Jeff Dugan.

Shiancoe caught a team-leading 11 touchdowns last season and was third on the Vikings with 56 receptions. He figures to be a go-to-guy for Favre again this season, especially with Sidney Rice sidelined for at least the first half after undergoing hip surgery. Kleinsasser remains a superb blocking tight end, although Favre isn't afraid to throw the ball to Kleinsasser or Dugan. Kleinsasser's 10 receptions last year were his most since 2005 and Dugan caught a career-high two touchdowns in 2009.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters -- Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin. Backups -- Greg Camarillo, Greg Lewis, Sidney Rice (PUP).

Rice has been lost for at least half the season after having hip surgery and Harvin's availability is a day-to-day proposition until it can be proven his issues with migraine headaches are under control. This means Berrian is going to have to emerge as a consistent threat, just as he was two years ago when he led the NFL by averaging 20.1 yards per reception. Berrian battled injuries to both hamstrings last season but appears to be healthy and has the ability to stretch the field with his speed. Harvin is a dynamic player and a nightmare for defensive coordinators when he can play. The 2009 NFL offensive rookie of the year was second on the Vikings last season with 60 receptions for 790 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. He can line up either in the slot or split out and also has the ability to shift into the backfield. The rest of the depth chart has yet to play itself out with newcomer Camarillo still trying to make positive impressions. Lewis caught only eight passes last season but one of those was the miraculous last-second grab in Week 3 that lifted the Vikings over San Francisco at the Metrodome. A workman-like player, Lewis is the type of guy coach Brad Childress likes to have on his team.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Starters -- LT Bryant McKinnie, LG Steve Hutchinson, C John Sullivan, RG Anthony Herrera, RT Phil Loadholt. Backups -- G/T Ryan Cook, C Jon Cooper, G Chris DeGeare.

The Vikings want to get more consistency from this unit, and it should help that Hutchinson and Herrera figure to be healthy after having shoulder issues in 2009. Loadholt also now has a year of experience. The biggest immediate concern is that Sullivan has missed most of the preseason because of a calf injury creating uncertainty at center. The Vikings are experimenting with having Herrera play center and DeGeare, a fifth-round pick from Wake Forest, play left guard. This is interesting because it makes the line much bigger as a whole and actually sets it up to create a power running game for Adrian Peterson. Sullivan is listed at 6-4, 301 pounds; Herrera at 6-2, 315; and DeGeare at 6-4, 335. One of the Vikings' biggest concerns has to be the backup jobs on the line. Veteran Artis Hicks, who left to sign with Washington as a free agent, was extremely valuable as the top reserve at both guard and tackle spots. DeGeare will become the top backup at guard, but it's unclear what will happen at tackle. DeGeare could get at shot there as well. Cook made the roster as the Vikings look to sort out what they have behind McKinnie and Loadholt. If something were to happen to McKinnie, it would not be surprising if Loadholt moved to left tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Starters -- LE Ray Edwards, DT Kevin Williams, NT Pat Williams, RE Jared Allen. Backups -- LE Brian Robison, LE Jayme Mitchell, RE Everson Griffen, NT Jimmy Kennedy, NT Fred Evans, DT Letroy Guion.

The front four remains one of the best in the NFL as the Williamses anchor one of the league's best run defenses and Allen provides pressure from the right side. The Vikings made a huge investment in Allen two years ago and it has paid off in a big way. The Pro Bowl end has 29 sacks in that time, 14.5 each season, and his presence helps to benefit Edwards. Edwards had a career-high 8.5 sacks last season and led the NFL with four sacks in the playoffs. Robison is a valuable backup as he has the versatility to replace Edwards at end and also shift inside to provide a pass rush in passing situations. Griffen, a fourth-round pick from USC, figures to be a project but is likely to make the 53-man roster. Kennedy is effective playing as a backup and gives the 37-year-old Pat Williams some rest. Guion, a fifth-round pick in 2008, has shown improvement in camp and figures to get more playing time as a result. The Vikings like Evans, but it will be interesting to see if his job might be in jeopardy because of the numbers game at this position.

LINEBACKERS
Starters -- SLB Chad Greenway, MLB E.J. Henderson, WLB Ben Leber. Backups -- SLB Heath Farwell, MLB Jasper Brinkley, WLB Erin Henderson, SLB Kenny Onatolu.

The story here is the return of E.J. Henderson, who suffered a broken femur last December in Arizona and looked as if his career might be finished. Henderson has been on the field since the start of training camp and his workload has been gradually increased. In the Vikings' third preseason game, Henderson was used in the base defense and remained in the game in nickel situations with Greenway. He appears to be ready for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener at New Orleans. Greenway and Leber are both steady forces on the outside. Greenway led the Vikings with 127 tackles last season -- the second year in a row he has done so -- and had a team-high six takeaways (three interceptions, three fumble recoveries), which was tops among NFL linebackers. Leber led Vikings linebackers with 2.5 sacks and tied for the team lead with nine passes defensed. Erin Henderson, E.J.'s little brother, has made strides in his third NFL season, and could stick. Erin has played some backup middle linebacker for the first time this preseason, but Brinkley is going to hold down that job. Brinkley stepped in for E.J. Henderson last season as a rookie and received favorable reviews from the coaches while learning on the job. Farwell and Onatolu are special-teams standouts.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Starters -- LCB Antoine Winfield, SS Tyrell Johnson, FS Madieu Williams, RCB Chris Cook. Backups -- CB Asher Allen, CB Lito Sheppard, SS Jamarca Sanford, SS Eric Frampton, FS Husain Abdullah, CB Cedric Griffin.

Winfield is back after missing six games and being slowed for much of last season because of a broken foot. The veteran's presence at the left corner should go a long way toward stabilizing things, assuming he can hold up over the long haul. Cook appeared to be the favorite to win the starting job at right corner before suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee in the Vikings' third preseason game. That job was open because Cedric Griffin continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in last season's NFC title game at New Orleans. Sheppard could begin the season as the right corner but Griffin might replace him sooner rather than later. The Vikings need Johnson and Williams to be more aggressive and certainly would like to see the pair combine for more than the one interception they had a year ago. Johnson was challenged in training camp by Sanford but it looks like the 2008 second-round pick will hold onto his job. The recent trade of Benny Sapp to Miami makes it almost certain that Allen will assume the nickel role. Abdullah and Frampton have been contributors primarily on special teams.

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Ryan Longwell, KO specialist Rhys Lloyd, P Chris Kluwe, LS Cullen Loeffler, KR Percy Harvin.

Longwell remains extremely reliable on field goals -- the veteran made 26 of 28 attempts last season -- but it still isn't clear if he will lose his role on kickoffs. The Vikings signed Lloyd to handle kickoffs after he was let go by Carolina, but he hasn't impressed in the preseason and that's a valuable roster spot he would eat up. Kluwe had the top net punting average of his career last season at 37.8 yards, the fourth-best mark in team history. Loeffler is one of the NFL's most reliable long snappers. Harvin made the Pro Bowl last season as a rookie after averaging 27.5 yards and scoring two touchdowns on kickoff returns. He, however, could be limited in that role this season if the Vikings want to keep him away from the hits that kick returners often take in order to try to cut down on his issues with migraines.

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