PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Vikings Activate Top Receiver Carter

Cris Carter, the Minnesota Vikings’ top receiver despite missing 4 1/2 games because of a broken collarbone, was activated Wednesday from the injured reserve list.

Carter, who leads the Vikings with 53 catches for 681 yards and six touchdowns, is expected to play in Saturday’s playoff game against the Washington Redskins.

Quarterback Stan Humphries, who sustained a dislocated left shoulder last Sunday, took his normal number of snaps in practice but the San Diego Chargers still aren’t sure if he’ll start Saturday’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I was able to throw a little bit, but I’m just going to have to wait and see tomorrow how it feels after a day of doing it,” Humphries said of his non-throwing shoulder.

Coach Bobby Ross said Humphries will start if he is cleared by the Chargers’ medical staff. Ross also said he might give backup Bob Gagliano the majority of the snaps in today’s practice so he will be ready if Humphries can’t play.

Barry Foster, voted team most valuable player by his Pittsburgh Steeler teammates, picked up the award and said he will sit out next season unless he gets a better contract.

“I would like to think it wouldn’t come to that, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Foster said.

Foster, second in the NFL with 1,690 rushing yards this season, skipped four days of mini-camp and the first three days of training camp before the season. The club responded by giving Foster a two-year contract top-heavy with incentive clauses that will pay Foster about $800,000 this season.

Dale Carter, cornerback-kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs, was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press.

Carter, the 20th pick of the NFL draft from Tennessee, received 22 votes to 20 for defensive end Santana Dotson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL referee Larry Nemmers volunteered to take a lie detector test to prove he did not direct a racial slur at New York Jets’ cornerback Erik McMillan in last Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

The league is aware of Nemmers’ statement but has no comment on whether it would administer such a test, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Defensive coordinator Robert (Woody) Widenhofer will not return to the Detroit Lions next season.

Widenhofer, 49, who was named defensive coordinator in 1989, left the team by mutual agreement after a meeting with Coach Wayne Fontes.

Quarterback John Elway of the Denver Broncos denies playing any role in owner Pat Bowlen’s decision to fire coach Dan Reeves.

Elway, speaking Tuesday on KOA radio, said “as far as me having anything to do with the decision that Mr. Bowlen had to make is totally, absolutely false. . . . I never had any discussions with Mr. Bowlen. . . . I think Dan has been a great coach.”