Zimmer did not rule out that Peterson might be able to play Sunday at Carolina.
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“He might miss a week, I don’t know if he will or not”, Zimmer said (via the Star-Tribune).
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson leaves U.S. Bank Stadium on crutches after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Minneapolis.
“His heel got kind of planted and the guy hit him from the side a little bit”, Zimmer said. Unable to put any weight on his right leg after the play, Peterson hopped off the field, and soon was taken to the locker room.
Peterson has had to face knee issues before. When a meniscus tear occurs, localized pain and swelling take place.
“They got after us up front, I thought”, Zimmer said. “He’s sitting down with the doctors and (athletic trainer Eric Sugarman) and all that stuff”, Zimmer said.
If Peterson does miss time because of his current knee injury, the Vikings are expected to use a committee approach.
Thankfully, quarterback Sam Bradford, whom the team traded for following Bridgewater’s injury, had a career-best performance in his Vikings debut.
A former No. 1 overall draft pick and Heisman Trophy victor out of Oklahoma, Bradford threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Rudolph with 10:14 left in the second quarter to tie the score 7-7.
The injury to Peterson is the latest blow to the Vikings, who saw quarterback Teddy Bridgewater tear multiple knee ligaments on August 30 and started the season with two different quarterbacks after trading for Bradford on September 3. She said that could keep Peterson out four to five weeks if he recovers quickly but possibly as long as eight weeks. A full fix would likely end his season immediately.
Peterson suffered a devastating left knee injury in 2011 – tearing both his ACL and MCL – only to bounce back and rush for 2,097 yards in the 2012 regular season. He tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee against the Washington Redskins back in 2011, somehow recovered in about six months and almost broke the NFL’s single-season rushing record the next season. Due to that draft spot, he now looks like a remarkable bargain: He has two more seasons left on a contract that pays him $2.5 million over four years.
“The analysis of our offense after two games, the running backs have not been given enough opportunities, so that’s something that I need to focus on”, McCarthy said.
Peterson, who led the National Football League in rushing last season, has managed just 50 yards on 31 carries through the first two games. Asiata is good friends with Peterson. The Vikings would be foolish to risk further damage to their star running back just three games into the season.
The Vikings wanted to cart Peterson to the locker room but he refused. “Obviously, any time you can beat a division rival, it’s a great win for this team.” said Bradford.
Aaron Rodgers didn’t quite break out his “relax” speech to the media after the Packers’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday, but his comments did sound familiar. He expects the same from his team following Peterson’s injury.
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“We have been trying to find ways to get the young man active, and because of what we have to do on special teams and all that, we haven’t had the chance to put him active. We know he’s going to do that because that’s what he’s done all the time”.
