Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian was "optimistic" he would be able to play Monday night in New Orleans despite a right knee injury that slowed him more this week.
Berrian said Saturday he hurt himself during practice earlier in the week. He is listed as questionable on the team injury report, generally meaning there is a 50-50 chance he could play.
Berrian, who has been hampered all season by a right toe injury, was asked whether his knee injury occurred by overcompensating for the toe.
"Maybe. I don't know. I'm not a doctor," he said.
Signed last summer to a contract with $16 million in guarantees to be the Vikings' No. 1 receiver, Berrian leads the team with 195 receiving yards (17.7 yards per catch) but has yet to score a touchdown.
The Saints (2-2) and their soft secondary seem ideal for Berrian and Minnesota to jump-start their stalled passing attack. The Saints rank second to last in passing net yards, yielding 17 plays of 20-plus yards.
Coach Brad Childress was noncommittal when asked about the status of Berrian and linebacker E.J. Henderson (doubtful), who did not practice because of two dislocated toes.
"They're just tentative. They're a little bit gimpy right now," he said. "We've still got 48 hours until game time. Lots of things happen in 48 hours."
