Childress says Peterson has to be patient

Adrian Peterson rushed for 121 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns Sunday in the Vikings' 48-41 loss at Chicago, including a 54-yard scoring dash in the third quarter.

Coach Brad Childress found at least one teachable moment for his Pro Bowl running back. It came in the second quarter, after Peterson lost 3 yards on a first-and-10 run to the right. On the next play, Peterson went left and lost another 4 yards.

This was the direct result of Peterson failing to be patient and follow his blocks -- something the coaching staff has worked on with him.

"There was a great example of a run [Sunday] that appeared as if it were going to be an inside run that he took and bounced to the outside," Childress said. "I'm going to say he lost 4 yards. That's a great example of sometimes you have to push the pile for 1 1/2 or 2 because it's not blocked to go out where [Peterson went]. When you take that into your own hand and try to force it, you end up with a result like that. Minus-4."

Childress understands that a player with Peterson's ability isn't in an easy spot given his confidence that he can make something happen. "Because he has that home run mentality, which you love, you have to fight against yourself," he said. "You maybe have outrun other people in that direction. You're not going to outrun somebody unless we're blocking that way."

Peterson is used in a variety of formations and Childress was asked if he felt the second-year player was more explosive in certain ones. "We have some feelings on that, but I don't know that I'd share them with you," he said. "He had a 54-yard run with a back in front of him [Sunday]. I have a sense of what I think about that but I'm not going to put it too far out there."

Left defensive end Ray Edwards said last spring he planned to break Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22 1/2 sacks. This was shortly after the Vikings acquired right end Jared Allen from Kansas City.

But seven games into the season, Edwards has only a half-sack. That came in Week 6 against Detroit.

Edwards has spent much of the season battling various injuries. He began training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list because of a back problem and missed the Week 4 game at Tennessee because of a shoulder injury. He appeared to injure his right leg Sunday but was able to continue.

"He just needs to keep coming," Allen said. "He's been there. He's missed a couple [of sacks]. It's one of those things where you can't go out and try to get a sack. You just have to play the game and it will all develop."

The Vikings re-signed rookie linebacker Erin Henderson and released linebacker Rufus Alexander.

The move came two days after the team promoted Alexander from the practice squad and waived Henderson. Henderson had been slowed by a knee injury and wasn't ready to go; Alexander played on special teams at Chicago and had a tackle.

Alexander likely will be signed to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The Vikings dropped Allen into coverage on one of their blitz packages Sunday, and the Bears scored a touchdown on a 51-yard catch-and-run by wide receiver Marty Booker, who eluded Allen in the flat.

Childress said the defense has that wrinkle as an "element of surprise."

Allen said he prefers to rush the quarterback, but he will do whatever to help the team. "Let's put it this way: I'm about 100 pounds heavier than some of those guys," Allen said. "They're running a little faster than me. It's a different scheme. That's coach's call. Would I like to rush every down? Yeah, darn right. I don't play linebacker.

"But I also understand the concept of the defense, that sometimes you can catch a team off-guard by bringing different people."