Continued: Younger sibling racking up credibility in Vikings camp

It happened more than once during training camp in Mankato. Rookie Erin Henderson emerged from the locker room and fans began screaming for "E.J." to sign an autograph.

Such is life when your older brother is the starting middle linebacker and emerging star on the Vikings defense. Erin handled the mistaken identity in stride, even telling one group of fans that he is the "better-looking Henderson."

It won't be easy for Erin to escape his brother's large shadow, but he's doing his best to carve out his own place. Competing for a backup linebacker job, Erin leads the Vikings with 16 tackles through two preseason games and is making a strong bid to be part of the 53-man roster after signing as an undrafted free agent this offseason.

Erin said he's confident he will make the team and even has his sights set on earning the important No. 4 linebacker spot now that Heath Farwell is sidelined for the season because of a knee injury.

"I feel like I can [win the top backup job]," he said. "The question is, do my coaches believe in me? Do my teammates believe in me enough? That's what I'm trying to accomplish. To earn everybody's respect and everybody's trust."

He already has that from E.J., the team's defensive MVP and Pro Bowl alternate in 2007. E.J. is both a fan and tough critic of Erin, but he's made a point to let his brother blaze his own trail.

"I let him do his own thing," E.J. said. "He's grown now. This is an opportunity for him to come out and show that he is his own guy and that he can play with the big boys. We have coaches out here for a reason. I just try to give him [advice] from a player's perspective."

Erin, who is six years younger, prefers to be recognized as more than E.J.'s little brother. He arrived at training camp on the rookie bus rather than ride to Mankato with E.J. the following day. Erin said he's also just as likely to seek advice from fellow outside linebackers Chad Greenway and Ben Leber on the field as he is his brother.

"I think I've been my own guy my entire life," Erin said. "It's just one of those things where we happen to do the same thing, play the same position. I've always strived to be myself and be my own person. I think those that know us best know that we're completely different in so many ways."

They certainly began their pro careers under completely different circumstances. E.J. was the 40th player selected overall in the 2003 draft. Erin was projected to be a second-day pick but went undrafted. He suffered two knee injuries at Maryland, including a torn ACL in 2005, but he also led the Atlantic Coast Conference in tackles last season.

"It was a tough thing for me to swallow," he said of going undrafted. "But it came and went so there's nothing I can do to change it now. At this point, it really doesn't matter that I didn't get drafted."

Erin hasn't allowed it to be an albatross in his bid to make the Vikings. He said he is comfortable with his knowledge of the defense and has showed some playmaking ability. He's also playing on all four special-teams units, working with the first team on punt and kickoff coverage.

He has struggled at times with his special teams responsibilities in part because it's a new experience for him. He didn't play special teams in high school and served only as the personal protector on punt team in college.

"It's definitely a lot different," he said. "I've never had to be a blocker. It's all new to me. Having to learn it at this level is really tough. But it's one of those adjustments I have to make."

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Henderson will continue to get playing time in the final two preseason games, which will enable the coaching staff to get a thorough evaluation of him.

"He's bouncing around to a couple different positions," Childress said. "He's smart enough to handle the positions. It's just whether he's had those reps. He's a bright-eyed kid. He's doing some nice things."