Peterson reaches rushing milestone

CHICAGO - Adrian Peterson didn't duplicate the record-setting performance of his first game in Soldier Field, but he did reach a milestone in a 48-41 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The Vikings running back eclipsed the 2,000-yard rushing mark in his 21st career game, tying him for third fastest to reach that milestone in NFL history. He rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.

Peterson had 224 yards and three TDs last year at Soldier Field.

On his season-high 54-yard TD run, Peterson followed pulling guard Anthony Herrera over the left side and then cut back to the middle of the field, outrunning everyone to the end zone.

"The coaches have been really harping on me to be more patient," Peterson said. "I was patient and let the guys up front do their job. I just really hugged Anthony Herrera on that pull. It shot wide open and it was off to the races."

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian played his first game in Soldier Field since signing a six-year, $42 million free-agent contract with the Vikings.

Berrian had six receptions for 81 yards and a 5-yard touchdown catch.

"It was nice to be back," Berrian said. "The outcome, I didn't like it. I wish we could have come out with a win."

Berrian said he and the Vikings' other receivers were excited by the fact the Bears were playing without starting cornerbacks Charles Tillman (shoulder) and Nathan Vasher (wrist) as well as nickel back Danieal Manning (hamstring).

"We still wanted to attack them because we know what they give up," Berrian said. "Especially me, and I know what they are about and I know their tendencies."

The Vikings signed Napoleon Harris on Thursday, two days after he was released by Kansas City. Harris spent most of the game Sunday playing middle linebacker.

Vinny Ciurciu got the start, but Harris replaced him on the second series.

"I definitely felt prepared," said Harris, the Vikings starting middle linebacker in 2006. "The coaching staff did a great job of getting me up to speed on what we were doing. I stayed after pretty much every day I was there to the wee hours of the night learning."

Regular middle linebacker E.J. Henderson is lost for the season after having surgery for dislocated toes, and David Herron is out because of a hip injury.

It appeared Ciurciu might have been lifted because he couldn't break up a touchdown pass to Greg Olsen. But Vikings coach Brad Childress said Ciurciu wasn't taken out because of anything he did wrong. Childress was impressed by the performance of both Harris and linebacker Dontarrious Thomas, who was re-signed by the Vikings last Monday and played on special teams.

"You have no idea how hard that is to come in, assimilate everything and get out and play the game when really neither of those guys have had any live action," Childress said. "I have to give it to those guys for stepping in there and doing a good job."

The Vikings waived rookie linebacker Erin Henderson and promoted linebacker Rufus Alexander from the practice squad. Henderson was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason. Childress said the team hopes to re-sign Henderson and perhaps put him on the practice squad.

Alexander was a sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2007 but missed the season after suffering a knee injury in an exhibition game. Alexander was released in the final training-camp cuts this year but was signed to the practice squad late last month.

After dropping a few passes early in the season, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe continued to be a reliable target. He caught four passes for 68 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown. It was Shiancoe's third touchdown catch this season.

"It's my second year in this system, so you're getting comfortable with it," Shiancoe said. "You know the ins and outs a little better. You just roll with it and can contribute to the team more. That's the position I'm in now."

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen had a busy second half. He collected two sacks and forced a fumble when he stripped the ball from quarterback Kyle Orton. Allen finished with six tackles, including four tackles for loss.

Allen dropped into coverage on one pass play and overran wide receiver Marty Booker on a short throw to the flat. Booker curled inside and sprinted 51 yards for a touchdown.

Childress said the players will be at Winter Park today to do a couple of things that need to be taken care of NFL-wise, but other than that he will give them the rest of the bye week off. They won't be required to return until a week from today when preparations will begin for the Nov. 2 game against Houston.

The Bears' Devin Hester, who averaged 18 yards on two kickoff returns and did not get a chance to return a punt, left the game in the third quarter because of an injured quadriceps muscle.

Hester lost the ball returning the opening kick of the second half, and the Vikings' Cedric Griffin recovered. But Chicago coach Lovie Smith challenged the call, and referee Carl Cheffers reversed his decision, saying Hester was down before he fumbled.

• The Vikings haven't used Peterson and Chester Taylor in the same backfield very often, but they scored two touchdowns with the pair on the field together Sunday. On the first, Peterson split wide to the left, and Taylor stayed in the backfield. Quarterback Gus Frerotte faked a handoff to Taylor and then threw a scoring pass to Shiancoe. Late in the second quarter, Peterson and Taylor lined up in a split backfield on back-to-back plays from the Chicago 1. Peterson failed to get into the end zone on first down, but Taylor scored on second down.

• Vikings receiver Sidney Rice played after missing three of the past four games because of a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Rice said he got about 10 to 15 snaps. He did not catch a ball.

• After failing to block a kick in 2007, the Vikings recorded their second blocked field goal of the season. Pat Williams blocked Robbie Gould's 42-yard attempt in the second quarter.

CHIP SCOGGINS

AND JUDD ZULGAD