Kennedy signed as insurance policy on D-line

Hours before Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams received temporary restraining orders that put them back on the field, the Vikings took steps to add depth at the position.

Jimmy Kennedy, the 12th overall selection in the 2003 draft by the St. Louis Rams, was signed to help fill the void left by four-game suspensions to the Pro Bowl players for violating the NFL's steroid policy.

"[Kennedy] has some explosive components to him," Vikings coach Brad Childress said Wednesday afternoon, before news of the Williamses' court case was learned. "We're lucky that he's around at this point of the season."

Kennedy, 6-4 and 320 pounds, has started 30 games in his career and has collected 160 tackles and five sacks. He had been Jacksonville but was released on Nov. 24, a day after the Jaguars lost 30-12 to the Vikings. Kennedy was not active for that game.

Kennedy had a career-high three sacks in 2005. Kennedy was traded by the Rams to Denver and spent training camp in 2007 with the Broncos. He joined Chicago for the final three games of last season.

At one point it appeared as if Kennedy could see playing time against Detroit on Sunday, but now his role is unclear at best.

About the only thing that appears certain is that versatile defensive lineman Brian Robison won't play Sunday. Although Childress would not rule Robison out, the coach acknowledged the second-year player had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday and did not practice Wednesday. A person with knowledge of the situation has said Robison could be out for several weeks.

Running back Adrian Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher with 1,311 yards, has lost three fumbles this season. Two of them came in the Vikings' 12-10 victory over Detroit on Oct. 12 at the Metrodome.

"It's really something I look at myself, to be honest," Peterson said of his fumbles, that day when asked on a conference call with Detroit reporters. "Knowing it during the game then really looking at it on film and kind of confirming it, I kind of caught myself being careless with the ball. I have definitely stepped that up and if anything, it's going to be a great effort by those guys to get the ball out again. It definitely won't be because I'm being careless with the ball."

Peterson got a day off from practice Wednesday for the second consecutive week in order to rest. He rushed for 131 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown Sunday night against Chicago. He is second in the league with 270 rushing attempts.

Jason Aikens, the collections curator for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, confirmed the Hall will request some type of memento from the play Sunday night in which Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bernard Berrian.

It was the 11th pass play of 99 yards in NFL history. The last time it had happened before Sunday was on Oct. 17, 2004, when then-Cleveland quarterback Jeff Garcia connected with receiver Andre Davis against Cincinnati. Aikens said the Hall received jerseys from both players and had them on display.

"That was the first time we ever collected something from that play, and we figured it had happened so many times, why not do something to recognize it?" Aikens said.

• The Vikings signed defensive back Roderick Rogers to their practice squad. Rogers played in three games for the Broncos this season before being released. He played college football at Wisconsin.

• Childress said right guard Anthony Herrera missed practice to be with his older brother, who died at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Childress said Herrera left to be with his brother Sunday night and was able to spend some time with him before he passed away. Asked if the death was unexpected, Childress said Herrera found out he needed to leave the team to see his brother Sunday night. Herrera is expected to return to the team today.

• Defensive end Jared Allen continues to be limited in practice because of a shoulder injury that clearly isn't affecting his play too much; Allen had three sacks Sunday. Also on the injury report were defensive tackle Letroy Guion (ankle), offensive linemen Artis Hicks (elbow) and Bryant McKinnie (ankle); tight end Garrett Mills (ankle); and safeties Darren Sharper (ankle) and Madieu Williams (shoulder). In Detroit, running back Kevin Smith (shoulder) was limited in practice.