EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter once again hedged on his retirement plans Wednesday, leaving open the possibility of playing for another team next season.

The Vikings' final home game is Sunday against Jacksonville.

"I'm going to tell you," Carter said. "It's a good chance this could be my last game."

He was referring to his final performance in front of the Vikings' fans who have watched him climb to second place on the NFL's career list for receptions (1,080) and touchdown catches (129) during 12 seasons with Minnesota.

Revitalizing his life and career after three rocky seasons in Philadelphia, Carter, 36, joined the Vikings in 1990 and made eight trips to the playoffs -- including two appearances in the NFC championship game.

But Minnesota (5-8) has struggled this season, and Carter has become much less involved in the offense in recent weeks.

Carter has 60 receptions for 712 yards and six touchdowns but only one 100-yard game and no scores in his last four. He was asked why he wouldn't want to declare this season his last and allow fans to give him a proper sendoff at the Metrodome.

"I think there are some extenuating circumstances that would not allow me to do that," Carter said. "I want the fans to be able to enjoy it, but there are certain things I don't have control over."

Said Carter's agent, Mitch Frankel: "They have definitely have gone away from making Cris an integral part in this offense the last four or five games. It's perplexing. If the team was winning and this was happening, it wouldn't be that big a deal. But I see plays where he's wide open and he's not getting the ball."

In a banquet speech in his hometown last May, Carter announced that 2001 would be his last season. But just before training camp in July, he claimed he hadn't made a final decision.

On Wednesday, Carter seemed ready to move on -- whether it was with another team or on to a different occupation entirely.

"I've been part of a great situation for a long, long time," he said. "That situation has changed. All good things come to an end, be it this Sunday or a year from now."