Peterson was injured in the third quarter of Minnesota’s 17-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
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Peterson entered this year as the rushing champion from last season, but seems to be a shadow of his former self, at least through the first two games.
Rodgers posted his worst quarterback rating (70.7) in 17-career games vs. Minnesota. Rodgers struggled for the Packers, as he went just 20-36 for 216 yards and one touchdown, but he also had a fumble lost and an interception. The Packers’ offense took over at its own 9-yard line with 4:38 remaining and drove near midfield with a pair of first-down passes and a Rodgers’ scramble. Zimmer does not believe Peterson’s injury could affect the team mentally.
Sam Bradford was seen shaking his left hand in pain for much of the game.
The reality, however, is it’s been more than two weeks: Rodgers’ struggles go back to past year.
In a game that felt more “playoff” than “regular season”, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers battered and bruised one another. To be fair, right tackle Phil Loadholt retired because of an injury, Mike Harris is still missing with a mysterious ailment, and center John Sullivan was cut before the season because the Vikings assessed that Joe Berger was better for the job. Green Bay went three and out after that, with Rodgers throwing two incomplete passes. Ted Ginn contributed 51 yards in two receptions. Stefon Diggs was the star of the night as he recorded nine catches for 182 yards and a touchdown.
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The Vikings already have lost quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the season with a knee injury, although he has been replaced by a veteran starter in Sam Bradford, acquired September 3 from Philadelphia. Mason Crosby hit the extra point, and just like that, the Packers had a 7-0 lead. With Adrian Peterson struggling and then going down with an injury in the middle of a close game, Diggs rose to the occasion and made play after hard play for his new quarterback. He ran it again on second down and Lacy gained foue, but tight end Richard Rodgers negated the latter with a dumb holding penalty that made it second and 11 instead of first and 10.
