EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss aced two of his tests in preparation for his return Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

On Monday morning, Moss passed two physical trials under the supervision of head trainer Chuck Barta. Moss hopped on each leg three times, and he ran three 40-yard dashes to gauge the progress of his strained right hamstring.

The answer to the third test will come Tuesday morning.

“The key is how he wakes up,” coach Mike Tice said.

If he has swelling, Moss might sit out his third consecutive game, following two token appearances before that.

If there is no swelling, he would be on schedule to play up to 25 plays Sunday against the Jaguars, even though he could be listed initially as doubtful. Tice has said that Moss would need to practice each day and undergo a magnetic resonance imaging exam before playing again.

“He looked extremely good,” Tice said of Moss’ workout. “One hundred percent? No. But he did really well.”

The update on Moss was welcomed at Winter Park, where the mood was much brighter after the Vikings ended a three-game losing streak with Sunday’s 22-19 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Tice praised the Vikings’ ability to finish the game and the leadership of veterans.

One such player is defensive end Lance Johnstone, who led the team with three sacks.

“We need to do some of the same things we did to prepare last week, and maybe even tighten up even more,” Johnstone said as he left Winter Park on Monday. “But it’s good to get that (losing) taste out of our mouth.”

The Vikings (6-4) have six games remaining, three against NFC North teams. Three of their final six opponents have winning records, but the Vikings face all of them at the Metrodome, starting with the Jaguars (6-4).

Statistically, the Jaguars have the best defense the Vikings have faced since the New York Giants on Oct. 31. The Jaguars’ defense is ranked 14th in the NFL, and they are led by head coach Jack Del Rio, a former Vikings linebacker.

That’s why the Vikings are thrilled at the prospect of getting Moss back.

Tice said Barta “pushed” Moss during the workout Monday, and Moss responded. During the hopping drill, Moss jumped better on his recovering leg than his healthy one. In running the 40, Moss’ time was still faster than most of his teammates’ times.

But offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said he was taking a “wait-and-see” approach with Moss. He plans on having Moss but would have a Plan B ready if Moss has a setback during the week.

Regardless, Linehan said his offense could take comfort in knowing it has been able to produce without Moss.

“I think the biggest thing is . . . we proved that we can be in any game, in any environment,” he said.

Linehan said the Vikings showed they could compete in close road losses to Indianapolis and Green Bay.

“That was without our best player,” he said. “I think that created some confidence, even in a loss, that we could do it.”

No one has benefited more than quarterback Daunte Culpepper, Linehan added. Playing without Moss for the first time in his career, Culpepper has shown patience and a willingness to distribute the ball to all of his options. In each of the past two games, Culpepper has completed passes to seven receivers.

“The best thing he’s done, he’s utilized all the playmakers within the system to his advantage,” Linehan said.

As for Moss, he was disappointed that his streak of consecutive games and games with catches ended. But he is hopeful of keeping alive another one: extending his NFL record of 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first seven seasons.

To do so, Moss, who has 394 yards receiving, would have to average 101 yards in his last six games.

Asked about the prospect of getting Moss back, Johnstone said, “That’s definitely going to be a big help, especially to open up a lot more stuff for our offense.”

Despite solid numbers, the Vikings haven’t been nearly as explosive during Moss’ absence, and they have struggled to run the ball. If he can draw his usual two and three defenders, Moss could make life easier for all of his teammates.

That is if he passes Tuesday’s test.

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(c) 2004, St. Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.).

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AP-NY-11-22-04 2204EST