Motivation Abounds At Vikings Return From Bye

EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) - As welcomed as the bye week is in the NFL for the rare in-season opportunity for healing and rest, that hole in the schedule can be a momentum-halter too.

The Minnesota Vikings returned from their brief vacation with the best antidote on the market for post-break complacency: an unbeaten record.

After getting back to work yesterday, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn says normally players feel sluggish coming out of a bye but the Vikings were locked in and focused.

Coach Mike Zimmer has reminded players not to grow complacent with their record so far and did it again yesterday.

The only known negative development during the week was the arrest of practice squad offensive lineman Isame Faciane on suspicion of drunken driving. Faciane wasn't on the field Monday, and Zimmer made it sound like he won't be there again, at least in Minnesota.

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke has been cleared to return to practice on Wednesday. He's been on the non-football injury reserve list since the start of training camp, the result of severed tendons in his left foot from an ill-fated kick of a glass door attempting to help a locked-out friend enter his apartment.