"Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian missed the entire second half of Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with an apparent left hamstring injury.

Berrian declined comment when asked about his injury. But he had a wrap around his left thigh as he dressed in the Vikings' locker room.

Berrian suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason opener Aug. 14 against the Indianapolis Colts, and he didn't return until the season opener Sept. 13 against the Cleveland Browns.

For the season, he is second on the team with 24 catches third with 252 receiving yards, including two touchdowns.

The Vikings hope he can play next Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Berrian had his best game of the season in the Oct. 5 victory over the Packers at the Metrodome, with six catches for 75 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown.

"It's painful to sit there and watch a loss," Berrian said of the second half of Sunday's game. "I just wanted to be out there. Any competitor doesn't like being on the sideline and watching their team play."

Berrian had two catches for 18 yards in the first half, with both coming on bubble screens. He beat cornerback Randall Gay at the line of scrimmage on both plays, gaining seven and 11 yards.

Berrian said quarterback Brett Favre likes those plays, when cornerbacks are playing off the receivers.

"Any time teams are going to play off, he'll take chances on that," Berrian said of Favre. "It's easy to get a quick eight, nine or 10 yards." "