The Sports Xchange

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Linebacker Chad Greenway’s 91-yard interception return for a touchdown was the fifth-longest in Minnesota Vikings history and one of the more unusual pick-sixes one might ever see.

Or didn’t see, as in the case of head coach Mike Zimmer.

“I actually didn’t see the touchdown,” he admitted after the 41-13 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Zimmer was one of two coaches bowled over by an official trying to track the play. That drew a 15-yard penalty on the Vikings sideline, which was enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

Greenway, 32, didn’t exactly set any land-speed records getting to the end zone.

“I don’t run 91-yard sprints much,” he said. “And I’m not going to start because of this play either.”

Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn seemed to be jogging alongside Greenway, who looked like he was straining with every muscle in his body.

“I was telling him to hurry up and get to the end zone,” Munnerlyn said.

“Believe it or not,” said Greenway, “I did play a lot of offense in high school, so I knew what to do with the football.”

–Offensive coordinator Norv Turner joked in practice last week that fullback Zach Line was on his fantasy team.

Or maybe he wasn’t joking.

For the second straight week, Line had one carry for one yard and one touchdown. His totals for the season: two carries for two yards and two touchdowns.

Asked if he was becoming a fantasy riser, Line shook his head.

“I think I’m the fantasy vulture,” he said. “I think everybody has Adrian and I get a touchdown here and there.”

On the subject of Peterson, as in Adrian, the star back scored two touchdowns to move into a tie for second place in team history. He and Randy Moss each has 93 touchdowns. Cris Carter has 110.

–Tight end Kyle Rudolph dropped what should have been a 24-yard touchdown reception in the end zone in the first quarter. On the next play, Teddy Bridgewater threw again into the end zone. Only this time the ball was intercepted.

“I was in between jumping up and going over the defender and catching it, or letting it come down,” Rudolph said. “I let it come down and it went between my hands and my stomach. I misjudged it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have many opportunities in the pass game after that. When something like that happens, it eats at you for a long time.”

Rudolph caught only two passes for 14 yards but was happy to play a big role in the team rushing for 163 yards and three touchdowns.

“When you have 28 [Adrian Peterson] in the backfield, that’s your identity,” Rudolph said. “When it’s working, you don’t stop.

–Cornerback Xavier Rhodes already passed concussion protocol after he was knocked from Sunday’s game when his neck was bent during a collision with safety Andrew Sendejo. Rhodes, the team’s top corner, did not return.

On Monday, Mike Zimmer said Rhodes suffered no other injuries in the collision and that he had already passed on of the tests in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Notes: Cornerback Trae Waynes, the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft, stepped in for Rhodes and played well in his first action on defense in an NFL regular season game. He provided some tight coverage, wasn’t penalized and collected five tackles and a pass defensed. . . . Wide receiver Charles Johnson (hip injury) was knocked out of the game in the first quarter and didn’t return. Zimmer was hopeful that Johnson would be able to play on Sunday. . . . Wide receiver Adam Thielen saw extended playing time because of Johnson’s injury. Thielen was targeted four times, catching two passes for 16 yards. . . . . Cordarrelle Patterson, a starter a year ago at this time, clearly is the No. 5 wide receiver but wasn’t targeted and had one carry for nine yards. . . . Strong safety Andrew Sendejo (leg) plays with total disregard for his body, and wasn’t able to finish his second start of the season. He was replaced by former starter Robert Blanton.