RBs Continue to Drop

The Vikings' big plans for the double-barrel backfield has taken a serious early hit, as both Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson have been sidelined with injuries in a 48-hour period of training camp.

The theme for the Vikings on offense this year was supposed to be the thunder and lightning combination of Chester Taylor and rookie Adrian Peterson, taking a page from the four teams that advanced to the conference championship games that all used two-headed backfields.

But just one week into training camp and one week away from their preseason opener, the Vikings have seen both of their top two stars dinged up.

Taylor went down earlier in the week with what at first was feared to potentially be a broken arm when Mike Doss’ helmet hit Taylor hard and forced him off the practice field. While Taylor returned to action Thursday, Peterson was the next to go down. Peterson limped off the practice field at Minnesota State-Mankato Thursday with what coaches are calling a hip pointer. While Taylor returned to practice Thursday afternoon, it was a non-contact session that didn’t put his injured arm at risk.

Neither Taylor nor Peterson are expected to take part in the practice sessions today and tomorrow with the Chiefs, which opens the door for Mewelde Moore and other young Vikings running backs to make an impression on the coaching staff.

For the Dream Backfield the Vikings envision, the first week has been known more for its setbacks than its achievements.

FRIDAY NOTES
* Cornerback Ronyell Whitaker was taken off the practice field on a cart with a sprained ankle Thursday, but defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said he didn’t think the injury was too serious.
* The practice with the Chiefs will mark the return of former Vikings first-rounder Michael Bennett against his old team. With All-Pro RB Larry Johnson holding out, Bennett is getting his chance to step into the role of starter and make a name for himself while the team tries to work out a deal.
* The Chiefs have some serious holdout issues. After trading Trent Green, the offense has questions at quarterback, Johnson is holding out for a new deal and the team has yet to sign first-round wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, despite the players around him being signed and his contract window pretty much already set.
* Daunte Culpepper’s one-year deal is worth $3.2 million, a 60 percent drop from the $8 million he made with the Dolphins last year.
* Whether Culpepper was signed as insurance for JaMarcus Russell potentially holding out or not, the rumors from the Bay Area say that there is no animosity in the negotiations, but that the agent for Russell was waiting for second overall pick Calvin Johnson to sign with the Lions. That got completed Thursday, when Johnson signed a six-year deal with the Lions to end an eight-day holdout.