Herron played college football at Michigan State and was not selected in the 2007 draft. He signed with the Vikings, was claimed by the Patriots off waivers following his release by Minnesota in its final roster cuts and then was signed to the Vikings practice squad in Week 2 of last year after the Patriots let him go.

With Herron playing in the middle, the Vikings have switched up their nickel defense. Henderson used to stay on the field for all downs and either Chad Greenway or Ben Leber would come off. Now Greenway and Leber are staying in and Herron is coming out in favor of an extra defensive back.

Meanwhile, the Vikings had four punters in for workouts on Wednesday. Chris Kluwe remains the team's punter but found himself in hot water with coach Brad Childress on Monday night after he failed to punt the ball out of bounds on two occasions.

After the Saints' Reggie Bush returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown, Childress did not want Bush too touch the ball again. However, Kluwe ended up punting it to Bush twice more and the second time turned into another touchdown.

PLAYER NOTES

--LB Erin Henderson did not participate in practice Wednesday after suffering a concussion Monday night in New Orleans. His status for Sunday's game against the Lions isn't clear.

--WR Bernard Berrian was limited Wednesday because of a knee problem. He suffered the injury last week in practice but was able to play Monday night against the Saints and had six receptions for 110 yards and one touchdown.

--LB Vinny Ciurciu was limited in practice Wednesday after suffering a concussion against the Saints. Ciurciu missed the Vikings' loss in Week 4 at Tennessee because of a knee injury.

--DE Ray Edwards was limited in practice Wednesday because of a shoulder injury suffered in Week 3 against Carolina. Edwards missed the next game but was able to play Monday night against the Saints.

--TE Jim Kleinsasser was limited in practice Wednesday because of a foot injury that has bothered him for two weeks. Kleinsasser, though, played Monday night in New Orleans.

--WR Sidney Rice did not play Monday night in New Orleans, missing a game for the second time in three weeks because of a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was limited in practice Wednesday.

--CB Benny Sapp did not play Monday because of a hamstring injury and was limited in practice Wednesday.

--C John Sullivan was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.

--S Madieu Williams, who hasn't played this season because of a neck injury suffered early in training camp, isn't ready to return but is expected to be back late this month. He continues to do limited work in practice.

GAME PLAN: The Vikings should dominate on both sides of the ball against what appears to be another awful Detroit club.

One would certainly think the Vikings running game could get back on track after being held to 44 yards on 26 carries by the Saints on Monday night. The Lions are last in the NFL in total defense and 30th against the run. Their pass defense isn't much better at No. 29.

This should be good news for running back Adrian Peterson, who averaged only 1.5 yards per carry against the Saints, but had 116 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns in a 42-10 victory over the Lions last December at the Metrodome.

Peterson has not rushed for 100 yards in the past three games after going over that mark in the first two contests.

Quarterback Gus Frerotte and receiver Bernard Berrian appear to be developing some chemistry after connecting six times for 110 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans. This is important because if Frerotte can hit Berrian on a few deep balls early in games it will loosen up defenses.

The Lions also have issues on offense. That unit ranks 28th in the league, including 31st in rushing and 19th in passing. The Vikings No. 3 ranked run defense is one of the best in the league and doesn't allow good running teams much room to work.

Detroit's only real hope will be to go to the air against the NFL's 24th-ranked pass defense.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Vikings CB Cedric Griffin vs. Lions WR Calvin Johnson -- Griffin has found himself the target of opposing quarterbacks for much of the season, in part because teams want to stay away from veteran left corner Antoine Winfield. That should be the case again Sunday. Johnson leads the Lions with 19 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns. In the Vikings defensive scheme, Griffin is often content to give up short to medium range passes, and the Lions would be smart to take advantage.

Lions RDE Dewayne White vs. Vikings LT Bryant McKinnie: The Lions don't exactly have an imposing pass rush, but White has a team-leading two sacks. He'll be matched up against McKinnie, who will be in his second game back after serving a four-game suspension to begin the season. McKinnie played every snap against the Saints on Monday night and appeared to be in pretty good condition.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson vs. Lions LBs Ernie Sims and Paris Lenon: Peterson hasn't reached the 100-yard rushing mark in his past three games, but had one of his best games against Detroit (116 yards) last season at the Metrodome. Two of the main players trying to contain Peterson will be linebackers Sims and Lenon, who are the Lions' two-leading tacklers with 42 and 35, respectively.

INJURY IMPACT: The biggest loss is MLB and defensive captain E.J. Henderson, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 4 at Tennessee. Second-year player David Herron is starting in his place but it's going to be extremely difficult to make up for the loss of Henderson's outstanding athletic ability. Receiver Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice continued to be slowed by knee injuries, and Rice has not played in two of the past three games.