(Video courtesy of HollyMartins)

Vikings QB Christian Ponder is often compared to Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert (especially this week), as they were taken 12th and 10th (respectively) in the 2011 draft and had similar experiences last season.

Gabbert started 14 games and threw 12 TD passes and 11 interceptions, while Ponder had 13 TD passes to 13 interceptions in 10 starts. Yes, they were rookies, but they expected more out of themselves.

“We both started a lot of games as rookies,” Gabbert told the team's official website. “We're both definitely looking to improve. It's a new year -- I'm new, I'm different.”

Ponder, like Gabbert, was not satisfied with his performance last season and he figures they both will improve in 2012.

“It’s obvious that neither of us had as good a year as we wanted to have,” said Ponder. “We are friends; we both trained together for the Combine two years ago. We’ve kind of hung out and talked to each other since, but we’re competitors and we are both confident in our abilities. We are looking to bounce back from what we did a year ago.”

It will be worth watching on Sunday who has the better game when their teams go head-to-head.

Solitary Simpson: WR Jerome Simpson was in the Vikings locker room on Wednesday but could not get on the field with his teammates as part of his NFL-imposed 3-game suspension. He can go to meetings with the players but can’t work out with them -- even in the weight room.

“I’ve got to make conversation with the strength and conditioning guys and that can be a little weird,” Simpson says laughing. “But their funny, I like them. I’ve just got to have a great playlist on my iPod and just go on in there and try to get a strong as possible.”

Who’s on third?: It’s still a toss-up between CBs Josh Robinson and new Viking A.J. Jefferson for the third cornerback spot. The rookie Robinson has looked good but is coming off a concussion, while Jefferson has been with the team only since Sunday.

“We’ll get a better feel for A.J. as the week goes on,” said coach Leslie Frazier. “Josh is right in the mix for that third corner position. We’ll see how he progresses during the course of the week coming off of the concussion, but he’s definitely in the mix.”

Kluwe dishes on the refs: Outspoken punter Chris Kluwe has tweeted frequently about the replacement referees’ performance in games, and now he has an article coming out in “Slate” that takes them to task again. He was asked if he thinks that NFL Commission Roger Goodell follows him on Twitter.

"If he takes blood pressure medicine, he might,” said Kluwe. “I am sure there is someone in the NFL front office that keeps an eye on me—they watch everyone.”

No sleeping on MJD: Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew missed the entire preseason due to a contract squabble, and finally reported this week. Leslie Frazier doesn’t think for a minute that Jones-Drew will spend the entire game on the bench on Sunday.

“You watch the tape of him from a season ago and you better be ready to tackle and buckle it up,” said Frazier. “He’s a very, very good running back, so we’re going to prepare as if he is going to play a lot. We need to do that. That’s how we’re approaching it, he’s going to play a lot on Sunday.”

Injury Update: The Vikings had four players out with ankle injuries on Monday (LB Marvin Mitchell, S Andrew Sendejo, CB Marcus Sherels and WR Jarius Wright), and only Sherels returned to practice (with limited participation). He was seen catching punts at practice and is at the top of the depth chart at that position for Sunday against Jacksonville.

Other names on the Vikings injury report are RB Adrian Peterson (limited participation) and S Robert Blanton (hamstring), TE John Carlson (knee), DT Letroy Guion (knee) and RG Geoff Schwartz (abdomen).

For more Vikings news and notes, follow Joe Oberle on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLMIN.