Benny Sapp, who signed with the Vikings as a free agent last offseason after spending his first four years with Kansas City, is expected to assume the nickel role and play in the slot. Starting left corner Antoine Winfield can play inside as well but the coaches prefer to leave him outside.

The punt-return job will likely fall to wide receiver Aundrae Allison. Allison has returned punts and kickoffs in his two seasons with the Vikings. Allison has averaged 7.1 yards on eight punt returns this season.

PLAYER NOTES

--DE Jared Allen was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a shoulder sprain. Allen, however, played through the pain of a third-grade sprain of the AC joint in his right shoulder last Sunday against Green Bay and is expected to do the same this Sunday in Tampa Bay.

--WR Robert Ferguson has been a healthy scratch for the past two games and it's not clear when or if he will be able to work his way back onto the field. The veteran has caught only three passes for 25 yards this season.

"It's tough for anybody who doesn't play, not just me," said Ferguson, who is playing under the terms of a one-year, $1 million contract.

--CB Charles Gordon's roster spot remained open Thursday, three days after he was placed on season-ending injured reserve. The Vikings attempted to claim DB Leigh Torrence and WR Adam Jennings off waivers this week, but both were taken by teams with a worse record than the Vikings. Torrence went to New Orleans and Jennings to Detroit.

--TE Garrett Mills has been able to practice at full speed after being slowed by an ankle injury that kept him out of the past two games. It's not certain, however, if Mills will be on the 45-man active roster Sunday.

--S Madieu Williams was limited in practice for a second consecutive day after suffering a "dinged" shoulder during the special teams portion of practice Wednesday.

--LB Chad Greenway leads the Vikings with 87 tackles through nine games and has led the team in tackles in five games.

--RB Adrian Peterson was named the NFC offensive player of the week for the third time in his career after rushing for 192 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries Sunday against the Packers. He also had three catches for 33 yards and scored the winning touchdown with 2:22 left on a 29-yard run.

GAME PLAN: There is no reason to believe Vikings coach Brad Childress is going to go away from his hot hand, and that means Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson is going to get the ball early and often against the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay has the NFL's 11th-ranked run defense and is giving up 99.3 yards per game, but Peterson is coming off back-to-back standout games against Houston and Green Bay.

The important thing for the Vikings is that quarterback Gus Frerotte begins cutting down on his interceptions. Frerotte has thrown eight picks in the past three games, including three last Sunday against the Packers.

He also failed to complete a pass to No. 1 receiver Bernard Berrian in that game. Green Bay has one of the NFL's worst run defenses, so Peterson still had a huge day.

But failing to win the turnover battle on the road could have disastrous results for the Vikings and Frerotte as Minnesota attempts to win the NFC North. Tampa Bay, which has the seventh-ranked defense in the NFL overall, is tied for fourth in the NFL this season with 12 interceptions.

The Vikings defense will be facing a team that averages 350.3 yards per game (eighth overall in the NFL). The Bucs are more dangerous through the air (234.4 yards per game) than running the ball (115.9 yards per game.

Considering the Vikings run defense is No. 3 overall in the league, the Bucs figure to try to test the Vikings defensive backs early to try to establish some momentum. The Vikings' pass defense has improved but it's still 19th in the NFL, giving up an average of 219.2 yards.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Vikings CB Cedric Griffin vs. Bucs WR Antonio Bryant -- Griffin figures to see a steady dose of Bryant, who leads the Buccaneers with 45 receptions for 566 yards and two touchdowns. Few teams are throwing at veteran corner Antoine Winfield on the left side, meaning that Griffin is the guy teams are picking on. Griffin allows a lot of short completions but rarely gives up the big play. Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia might try to change that on Sunday.

Vikings QB Gus Frerotte vs. Bucs CB Aqib Talib: Frerotte has thrown eight interceptions in the past three games, including four against Chicago in the Vikings' last road game. That means Talib, a rookie, could have significant role in this contest. Talib isn't atop the depth chart, but the first-round pick has a team-leading three interceptions. The Buccaneers have a total of 12 this season. Talib does not have a touchdown off an interception, but Frerotte has given one up in each of the past two games.

Vikings LT Bryant McKinnie vs. Bucs RDE Gaines Adams: McKinnie will have an interesting match-up in this one as he goes against Tampa Bay's first-round pick of 2007. Adams has a team-leading four sacks in nine games. That is only two fewer than he had in 16 games last season. McKinnie's play seems to have improved as he's eased back into the starting role after being suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season. Adams figures to provide a good test.

INJURY IMPACT: Charles Gordon's loss means that Benny Sapp likely will take over in the nickel role. Sapp had played in a dime defense that the Vikings have used infrequently this season. If the Vikings do use a dime, it could include rookie Tyrell Johnson playing safety and safety Madieu Williams moving into more of a coverage role.