Written by John Breech at CBSSports.com
Adrian Peterson’s definitely injured, but might not keep him sidelined for long.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer revealed on Monday that Peterson suffered a torn meniscus during Minnesota’s Sunday night win over the Packers. Duringan interview with KFAN radio in Minneapolis, Zimmer said that despite the injury, he’s not going to rule Peterson out for this Sunday’s game at Carolina.
Peterson went down with a leg injury during the third quarter of the Vikings’ 17-14 win over the Packers. On a first-and-10 play from the Green Bay 37-yard line, Peterson took a handoff and went for a 5-yard gain. After he was tackled, he tried to get up, but wasn’t able to put any weight on his right leg.
MediaCard–mediaForward
Adrian Peterson on the ground receiving attention. #SNF pic.twitter.com/FwdBBVur7X
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 19, 2016
After the play, Peterson was taken to the Vikings locker room and immediately ruled out for the rest of the game. When Peterson left the stadium on Sunday night, things didn’t look good for the Vikings. The running back was wearing a giant knee brace and walking with crutches.
Adrian Peterson on crutches as he exits locker room with brace on right knee #Vikingspic.twitter.com/Zpz92qE5r0
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) September 19, 2016
In the hours after the game though, not only did the swelling on the knee go down, but Peterson’s wife said that her husband would be “okay.”
I just spoke with Mrs Adrian Peterson she said her husband would be okay. That he is walking on his injured knee.
— Larry Fitzgerald Sr. (@FitzBeatSr) September 19, 2016
If Peterson can’t go on Sunday, that means that Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon will likely carry the load for the Vikings.
When Peterson sat out 15 games of the 2014 season, Asiata carried the ball 164 times for 570 yards and nine touchdowns.
As for McKinnon, he was a rookie in 2014, and carried the ball 113 times during Peterson’s absence. He only carried the ball twice against the Packers.
That being said, don’t count Peterson out. There’s a reason Zimmer hasn’t ruled his running back out for Sunday’s game and that’s because Peterson is a physical freak of nature.
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