Lost amid Chester Taylor's injury and Adrian Peterson's breakout game Sunday was a story line involving another Vikings running back. Mewelde Moore was inactive for the first time since his rookie season in 2004.

Taylor and Peterson were the only running backs on the Vikings' depth chart who were active for the 24-3 victory over Atlanta. Coach Brad Childress kept three fullbacks — Tony Richardson, Jeff Dugan and Naufahu Tahi — on the 45-man game-day roster. Tahi, though, was a running back at Brigham Young and had been getting some reps at that spot during camp. He carried twice after Taylor left during the first quarter. With Taylor (bruised oblique), Richardson (bruised forearm) and Fahi (ankle) all likely to be on the injury report today, there is a chance Moore could get back on the field Sunday at Detroit.

"I think it ends up sorting itself [out] just from an injury standpoint or what you need on the defensive side or what you are looking to feature package-wise on the offensive side," Childress said when asked about Moore's status in future weeks. "We had three fullbacks up [Sunday], there may be a time we have three tailbacks up for a reason."

Perhaps the biggest surprise of Moore sitting was the fact he was expected to be returning punts. That job went to receiver Bobby Wade instead. Moore, by the way, will be a free agent after the season.

Etc.

• The Boston Globe reported the Vikings were among the teams who pursued former Patriots receiver Reche Caldwell. The Jets also made a play for Caldwell, who signed with Washington on Tuesday. Caldwell led New England in catches (61), yards (760) and tied for the team lead with four touchdowns catches in 16 games last season.

• The Vikings have had five free agents in for workouts over the past two days. Linebacker Jordan Beck, a third-round pick by Atlanta in 2005, visited Monday. Beck appeared in 15 games with the Falcons last season and finished second on the team with 13 special teams tackles. Visiting Tuesday were receivers Eric Fowler (Grand Valley State) and Marcus Maxwell (Oregon); defensive back Jamaal Fudge (Clemson); and quarterback Gibran Hamdan (Indiana).

• New England has released linebacker David Herron, who was among the Vikings' final cuts coming out of training camp. Herron was the player the Vikings had interest in placing on their practice squad, but the Patriots signed him as retaliation for the Vikings signing tight end Garrett Mills.

• Local Fox affiliate KMSP, which bought the remaining 400 tickets for Sunday's game and thus helped the Vikings avoid a blackout, was rewarded with a 28.0 rating and 62 share for the telecast, meaning 469,952 households tuned into the Vikings victory.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com