Following Shaun Hill's lead, Sam Bradford took the handoff, dropped back and tossed a simple completion to a running back in position drills during Vikings practice.
Bare necessities of the quarterback position, such as footwork or arm mechanics, are not what would get in the way of Bradford's potential Week 1 start. Real deciding factors arise when media are removed from practice at the onset of actual 11-on-11 football.
How does Bradford recall plays in offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system, one that can blend both numbers and concepts in calls? In the huddle, how quickly can he relay calls to teammates? Is he on the same page as the offensive line in protection? And once the snap finally comes, does Bradford consistently make the right reads across a spectrum of receivers he met only days ago?
"He's been around football long enough," receiver Charles Johnson said. "He knows what a curl route looks like. He just has to get used to how we call the plays, our depths and all that type of stuff."
Only when those questions are answered can coach Mike Zimmer decide which quarterback he'll start Sunday in Tennessee. The decision had not been made before the first of three remaining practices Wednesday, according to Zimmer.
"I have to watch practice. I have to see what he's comfortable with," Zimmer said. "There's a lot involved with this decision."
Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Wednesday he's expecting the Vikings to start Bradford.
Two things in QB's favor
The Vikings' tentative plan after acquiring Bradford in a trade from Philadelphia was to start Hill in Tennessee. That could change if Bradford proves himself to be a quick study in only one week of practice.
He has a few things going for him.
One, tight ends coach Pat Shurmur, who was offensive coordinator for the Rams when they drafted Bradford No. 1 overall in 2010, vouched for Bradford's intelligence before the trigger was pulled on the trade.
Two, Bradford is the equivalent of a football nomad. This is his fifth playbook entering his seventh NFL season, so he has both the experience in starting over with the knowledge of previous systems that provide some carry-over into Turner's scheme. And three, there are two people — Shurmur and Hill — with whom Bradford has been with at other stops and can translate a play call into something he already knows.
"I can go up to Shurm and say, 'Hey, can you explain this in terms that we've done in the past?' " Bradford said.
Bradford will be in uniform Sunday, because he's one of two quarterbacks on the Vikings' active roster.
"I'll feel confident if I am getting the nod," Hill said. "And it helps that this is my second year in the system. It helps I've played with these guys."
Griffin cut
Veteran safety Michael Griffin was released by the Vikings on Wednesday after agreeing to an injury settlement.
Griffin, 31, initially was placed on injured reserve last weekend and is now free to sign elsewhere. He agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in Minnesota this spring, but his audition was cut short because of a back injury that knocked him out of the Aug. 28 exhibition against San Diego.
Griffin played nine seasons in Tennessee after the Titans drafted him in the first round out of Texas in 2007.
Injury report
Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and linebacker Eric Kendricks are healthy and ready to go after both missed preseason action because of knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. Neither was listed on the season's first injury report.
Practicing without limitations were left tackle Matt Kalil (hip) and safety Anthony Harris (shoulder).
Limited were cornerback Xavier Rhodes (hamstring), Johnson (quadriceps), running back Jerick McKinnon (foot) and tight end Rhett Ellison (ankle).
Tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) and center Nick Easton (ankle) were held out of practice.