Brian

Williams

The Vikings cornerback will be listed as probable.

Williams, arrested last Saturday, will match up with Terrell Owens in what projects to be one of the weekend’s better games.

The third-year player is coming back from a knee sprain suffered in Minnesota’s first preseason game. Williams went through an entire practice today and Tice said he looked a little more explosive.Williams will probably be the nickel back.

The Vikings will update his status on Monday.

Williams was signed as depth when Terrell Thomas (ACL) went down for the season in August. He gets replaced by Justin Tryon, who the Giants signed off the street yesterday.

Dunta Robinson is locked in at LCB, and will be the IDP corner to target in Atlanta. Grimes, who led the team with six picks last year, and Owens, who finished the season starting, may ultimately end up in a rotation. Brian Williams, Chevis Jackson, and rookie Dominique Franks are also competing.

Williams tore his knee in Week 6 of last season, meaning he may not be 100 percent in July. He won’t be relied upon too heavily anyway with Dunta Robinson locked in as the No. 1 corner. Williams will compete for snaps against Chris Owens and Brent Grimes.

Williams hasn’t played that well as Minnesota’s nickel back this season. Ralph Brown stepped into the lineup for him.

Minnesota’s secondary is suddenly extremely thin with Willie Offord out for the season and Darren Sharper questionable for Week 4.