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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -Bernard Berrian had a step on his man, racing down the right sideline to chase a deep pass from Tarvaris Jackson.
Just when it looked like Berrian was in position to make a big play, he stumbled with a defensive back and fell to the turf, the ball glancing off his fingertips.
It's been that kind of start for a receiver who signed a large contract to give the Minnesota Vikings the deep threat they sorely needed.
The brother of an Olympic sprinting hopeful, Berrian just hasn't been able to get out of the blocks yet this year. He had three catches for 38 yards in a season-opening loss at Green Bay and was shut out in an 18-15 defeat to Indianapolis last week.
That's not the kind of production expected from a player who signed a $42 million contract with $16 million in guaranteed money that made him one of the richest receivers in the league.
"Yeah, it's frustrating, especially when you're losing," Berrian said. "It's still not anything to get down about. We played two tough teams and we've still got some things to do. But it is frustrating when you're not starting off the way you want to start."
It hasn't been all Berrian's fault. The Vikings' passing game has struggled in the first two games, and coach Brad Childress says he is partly to blame for Berrian's modest numbers.
"I need to do a better job of factoring him in and getting him more looks," Childress said.
The receivers have managed just 10 catches for 148 yards in the first two games. Slot receiver Bobby Wade leads the group with three catches for 42 yards, but that is good for only fifth on the team.
Running back Adrian Peterson, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, running back Chester Taylor and tight end Garrett Mills all rank higher.
"We obviously have to do a better job of getting the ball to our wide receivers," Childress said. "Somewhere you're going to need to throw it to your wideouts. Whether it's short or whether it's long, you have to get the ball to those guys."
After making a career-high 71 catches for 951 yards and five touchdowns last season in Chicago, the Vikings made acquiring Berrian one of their top priorities of the free agent season. Owner Zygi Wilf signed off on a significant compensation package for him, figuring that if Berrian could post numbers like that in Chicago's woeful offense, he would only improve on Minnesota's balanced unit.
The speedster was plagued by a toe injury in training camp, an injury that appears will linger all season long.
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