Peterson's sore hamstring has Taylor ready for more

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was limited in practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. Backup Chester Taylor is preparing to carry the ball more if Peterson is still hurting by Sunday's home game against Carolina.

By CHIP SCOGGINS and JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: September 18, 2008 - 7:27 AM

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An eventful Wednesday at Winter Park included running back Adrian Peterson's name being listed on the injury report.

Peterson had limited participation in practice because of a hamstring injury. Peterson carried the ball 29 times for 160 yards against the Colts on Sunday. He also had a team-high four catches for 20 yards.

The team doesn't have to list Peterson's status until Friday. Peterson and backup Chester Taylor worked with new starting quarterback Gus Frerotte on handoff exchanges after practice.

"You need two running backs in this league," Taylor said. "Any given play, a running back can go down. You've got to have depth at running back. I believe we have that right now."

Taylor shared the load with Peterson the first half of last season, but he is the clear backup now. He has nine carries for 37 yards in two games.

"Adrian is our starting running back right now, so I'm backing him up with whatever they need me to do," he said.

Asked if he's OK with his role, Taylor said: "Nobody is ever OK going from starting to backing up. But I want to win right now. Whatever helps us to win, I'm willing to do."

That includes returning kickoffs. Taylor had a 31.0-yard average on three kickoff returns against the Colts.

"I haven't done it since I was in Baltimore," he said. "It's just like me being a running back. I got the ball in my hands. Just read the hole."

Wide receivers hurting

Three of the team's top four wide receivers -- Sidney Rice (knee), Bernard Berrian (toe) and Aundrae Allison (foot) -- were listed on the injury report. Rice, who has a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, did not practice. Berrian and Allison had limited participation.

Veteran Robert Ferguson said he was told by the coaching staff that he likely will play more Sunday against Carolina because of Berrian's toe injury, which is clearly bothering him. Berrian played all 16 games with the Chicago Bears last season with the same toe problem.

"It's the best it's going to feel right now," Berrian said. "It's just something I'm going to have to deal with the whole year."

Race against the clock

The Vikings still have about 2,000 tickets left to sell if they want to avoid having Sunday's game blacked out in the Twin Cities. A Vikings home game has not been blacked out since the 1997 regular-season finale.

The NFL deadline for the tickets to be sold is noon today -- 72 hours before kickoff -- but the Vikings almost certainly will be granted an extension by the NFL until noon Friday.

Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, said in an e-mail: "We are making progress towards selling the remaining tickets available and have alerted the NFL office of our situation and will be in touch with them again tomorrow about the possibility of getting a 24-hour extension on the deadline."

LaCroix has been in contact with Fox-owned KMSP (Ch. 9), which is slated to show the game, and other local companies to discuss the potential for assistance in buying any remaining tickets.

Etc.

• Safety Darren Sharper was a new addition to the injury report because of a shoulder injury. He was limited in practice. Defensive tackle Ellis Wyms (concussion) and running back/kick returner Maurice Hicks (sprained foot) took part in the entire session, and Hicks could play in his first game of the season Sunday.

• Childress said Madieu Williams is "on track" when asked if the safety will be able to return for the Vikings' Week 4 game against Tennessee. Williams has been out since early in training camp because of a neck injury.