vikings/nfl

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kelly Holcomb, long considered the Vikings' safety net at the position, apparently has other suitors as well.

The Atlanta Falcons have inquired about Holcomb, according to the NFL Network, after losing backup D.J. Shockley (knee) for the season. The Falcons, who already were resigned to playing without starter Michael Vick, are down to Joey Harrington and Chris Redman as their top two quarterbacks.

Holcomb has not practiced since bruising his knee Aug. 13, but he is expected to return to health in time for the regular season. One of the league's worst-kept secrets, however, is that he will not make the Eagles roster unless Donovan McNabb, A.J. Feeley or Kevin Kolb is injured.

Holcomb said before training camp that he considered the Vikings a good fit, and it has been well known in league circles that Vikings officials are keeping tabs on his situation in Philadelphia. In fact, the Vikings are known to have made calls to more than one team to gauge the status of their quarterback depth.

There is little doubt that Tarvaris Jackson will be the Vikings' starter, making their recent personnel inquiries more likely related to potential backups. Brooks Bollinger is currently the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback, but Holcomb has more game experience (21 career starts), a stronger arm and should not have trouble learning the offense after spending training camp with Philadelphia.

Coach Brad Childress said Tuesday that Jackson and Bollinger will be the only quarterbacks to play in Saturday night's game at Seattle. Jackson will start and play through the first series of the third quarter, and Bollinger will take over for the duration.

On Peterson

Tailback Adrian Peterson missed the start of Tuesday afternoon's practice to attend to personal business but returned in time for most of the session.

Speaking earlier in the day, Childress said that Peterson resolved any questions about his toughness or tenacity on Friday night, when he leveled New York Jets cornerback David Barnett at the end of a 43-yard run.

"From my standpoint," Childress said, "I am not a big step-out-of-bounds guy unless you are a quarterback. I think the people who said [Peterson] doesn't play under his pads very well, or doesn't play with very good leverage, can see what kind of leverage he has. Rather than getting sliced in the knee by a guy who is going to tackle him that way, he lowered his shoulder on a guy.

"As long as he is playing for me, as I told him, that is what I expect to see from him when he gets by the boundary."

Etc.

• Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, wide receiver Cortez Hankton, cornerback Mike Hawkins, tight end Braden Jones, linebacker John Kerr and tight end Richard Owens did not practice because of injuries. Defensive tackle Fred Evans missed his sixth day with the team as he settles his legal issues in Florida.

• The Vikings opened two roster spots Tuesday, one of which was taken by new receiver Robert Ferguson. Former Gophers receiver Paris Hamilton was waived, and offensive lineman Adam O'Connor was waived/injured.

• Former Vikings running back Darrin Nelson, now a member of the Stanford University athletic department, will be part of the Vikings' television announcing team for Saturday night's game.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com