Each head coach professes admiration for the other leading up to Sunday's Patriots-Vikings game at Gillette Stadium.

FOXBORO – They form an NFL mutual admiration society.

Returning a compliment he received earlier in the week, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer called New England’s head coach “the best coach ever,” but jokingly added he hopes the praise he received wasn’t all part of a ploy, a setup with his 6-4-1 team headed to Gillette Stadium to play the 8-3 Patriots on Sunday.

Speaking to the Minnesota media via a conference call on Tuesday, Belichick spoke highly of Zimmer, saying: “I think Mike’s one of the best coaches in the league, no question about it. He’s done a great job with that program. He’s been one of the great coaches in the league for a couple decades.”

After returning the praise, Zimmer, speaking to the New England via a conference call on Wednesday, added: “I think it’s a compliment that he thinks that of me. Hopefully, he’s not just saying it because we play him this week.”

After paying his dues at the college level – serving on the staffs at Missouri (where he was a defensive assistant from 1979-1980), Weber State (inside linebackers coach from 1981-1984; defensive backs coach from 1985-1988) and Washington State (defensive coordinator from 1989-1993) – Zimmer broke into the NFL’s coaching ranks with the Dallas Cowboys, serving as their defensive backs coach from 1994-1999 and defensive coordinator from 2000-2006 before assuming the latter role with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and the Cincinnati Bengals from 2008-2013.

Now 62 years of age, Zimmer was named the head coach of the Vikings in 2014, guiding them to a regular-season record of 45-29-1 and a playoff record of 1-2 since then.

Speaking to the New England media on Wednesday, Belichick repeated his props for Zimmer, saying that “he’s a great coach and has been for a long time.”

The two have squared off as head coaches once before, with Belichick’s Patriots routing Zimmer’s Vikings, 30-7, at TCF Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2014, the latter’s first month in Minnesota.

Allen DNP; Brady limited: Tight end Dwayne Allen (knee) was the lone absentee at Patriots practice.

Quarterback Tom Brady (knee) and safety Nate Ebner (knee) were limited. Brady actually missed the team's previous practice last Friday but went out and threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns in this past Sunday's 27-13 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman (foot) was a full participant.

The Vikings reported that wide receiver Chad Beebe (hamstring), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee), tight end David Morgan (knee) and cornerback Xavier Rhodes (hamstring) did not participate in practice.

Linebacker Ben Gedeon (concussion) and wide receiver Adam Thielen (calf) were limited.

Guard Tom Compton (knee), linebacker Eric Kendricks (chest) and guard Mike Remmers (low back) were full participants.

A 300 hitter: Sunday will mark Belichick’s 300th regular-season game as head coach of the Patriots.

He is 222-77 (.742) to date in regular-season play with the team.

A Patriots win would be Belichick’s 250th (regular season and postseason) as Patriots head coach.

The backup plan: After redshirting in 2007, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins backed up Patriots backup Brian Hoyer at Michigan State in 2008.

Annual toy drive: The Patriots and WBZ-TV will be staging their annual toy drive to benefit children in need this holiday season at Sunday’s game.

Fans are encouraged to bring new and unwrapped toys to the collection bins outside the stadium gates or to the Patriots Pro Shop prior to the game. Everyone who makes a donation at the game will receive a 10-percent discount coupon to the pro shop.

Toys donated by fans will be delivered by Patriots players at upcoming holiday charitable events for kids in need ranging from newborn to 18 years of age.

Suggested items to donate are action figures and dolls, art supplies (markers, washable paints, colored pencils, drawing pads, etc.), board games, books and educational toys, building toys (blocks, etc.) footballs, soccer balls and assorted sporting goods, jewelry kits, musical toys, new teddy bears/stuffed animals, school supplies, toy cars and trucks and winter clothing (gloves, hats, jackets and mittens).

Toy donations must be new and unwrapped.

The toy bins are currently located in the entrances to the Patriots Pro Shop, the Patriots Hall of Fame and at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston. All toys will be collected through Dec. 17. To learn more about the holiday toy drive, visit http://www.patriots.com/community/collection-drives.

Hurst Jr. update: On a local note, Canton’s Maurice Hurst Jr., the son of former Patriots cornerback Maurice Hurst, is having a good rookie season on a bad team: 27 tackles and four sacks in his 11 games (the last 10 of them starts) at defensive tackle for the 2-9 Oakland Raiders.