Doss healthy and prepared to play

Vikings S Mike Doss fully participated in practice Wednesday and said he is ready to play if needed.

That may well be the case, with both starting safeties -- Darren Sharper and Dwight Smith -- battling through injuries and missing practice Wednesday.

"You lose their leadership, and their experience. But I feel myself and Tank (Williams), we’ll be able to handle whatever adversity comes for us," Doss said. "We just want to continue to keep our defense rolling, and playing big and fast. And when those guys get healthy, those guys will be ready to roll."

As for Doss, he hasn't played since last Oct. 22, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Washington Redskins. At the time, he played for the Indianapolis Colts.

"I can’t wait to get back out there," Doss said. "It’s actually almost a year, since I been in a real regular season game. I’m looking forward to that. It’s going to be a challenge, but I think it’s all going to work out for me."