It appears embattled Mike Priefer will remain with the Vikings as special-teams coordinator.

Joe Woods, who said he was dismissed Wednesday as Minnesota’s defensive backs coach, said it’s his understanding Priefer will stay and be on the staff of new coach Mike Zimmer. Priefer was accused earlier this month by former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe of making homophobic remarks during the 2012 season, a charge Priefer has denied.

“I think Priefer is good,” Woods said about Priefer remaining after Leslie Frazier had been fired. “That’s what I do believe. … That’s the word going around, that he’s going to be there.”

Zimmer declined comment on whether Priefer will stay. He said he will announce his staff later at one time.

Woods said that Alan Williams, defensive coordinator under Frazier, will become defensive backs coach with the Detroit Lions under new coach Jim Caldwell. Woods also said Jeff Davidson will remain with the Vikings as offensive line coach.

Earlier Wednesday, it became known that Jerry Gray will take over Woods’ job as defensive backs coach after being Tennessee’s defensive coordinator for three years. Woods said Zimmer called to tell him the Vikings are “going in another direction.”

Woods also said tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson was let go but that linebackers coach Fred Pagac and defensive line coach Brendan Daly both will be interviewed to possibly remain on staff with Zimmer.

Also Wednesday, the Giants announced that Craig Johnson, who had been Frazier’s quarterbacks coach, has been named running backs coach in New York.

Others known to have been brought aboard so far on Zimmer’s staff are offensive coordinator Norv Turner, defensive coordinator George Edwards, quarterbacks coach (and Turner’s son) Scott Turner and Adam Zimmer, the son of the coach whose precise role remains to be seen.

“I had a talk (Wednesday night) with my dad,” said Adam Zimmer, the Bengals’ former assistant defensive backs coach. “We’re having discussions with that, whether it will be nickel backs or safeties or linebackers. It’s still up in the air right now.”

Other coaches from Frazier’s staff known to be on the way out are offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and linebackers coach Mike Singletary.

The Vikings on Wednesday also signed defensive tackle Kheeston Randall to a reserve/future free-agent contract. Randall played in 12 games for Miami as a rookie in 2012. He was with Cincinnati for the second half of the 2013 season when Zimmer was defensive coordinator, though he did not play in any games.