Fozzy Whittaker, who ran for 100 yards on 16 carries in the win, will start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
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Possible replacements for Peterson are reserve running backs Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon.
The running back went down with a horrendous looking knee injury during the Vikings 17-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
Peterson was helped off the field by trainers and was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game.
“We just have to find a way to win, like we always do”, coach Mike Zimmer said Monday. Peterson, who was injured Sunday, told ESPN that he has a “bucket handle tear” of the meniscus, which typically has a minimum recovery time of three to four months.
McKinnon and Asiata combined for 1,108 rushing yards on 277 carries in 2014, when Peterson missed 15 games after being indicted on child injury charges.
The Vikings are still evaluating the injury and have not yet determined how much time he will miss.
After a very good performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week where he made a game-saving tackle in the fourth quarter, Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall had a rough night against the Minnesota Vikings which led to a 17-14 loss. Regardless of how long Peterson is out, defensive end and fellow team captain Brian Robison said the Vikings must be prepared to move on.
Through two games, the Vikings have mustered just 95 yards on 50 attempts, a meager 1.9 yards per carry. It was certainly different, but team officials say it was the fastest and safest route to take. The veteran quarterback completed 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns in his first game Sunday. That’s brutal, and confirms the snap judgment that Peterson seems to be getting hit in the backfield an bad lot this season.
“US Bank Stadium isn’t the first stadium to have the entrance through a bar or club level, but it just seemed odd to watch an injured player have to make turns and maneuver his way to the locker room in that setting”. The fact that both of those running backs are still in the Vikings’ stable is a good place to start.
The Vikings are 2-0 despite some shoddy play from their offensive line. “So I thought the second half we played more like we want to play”. Peterson, who missed nearly the entire 2014 season after being accused of assaulting his four-year-old son, returned to football last year to top the single-season rushing standings.
“I don’t think we actually got our rhythm going all night”.
Zimmer shared the news at his Monday press conference with reporters at 2 p.m. Then he hit Kyle Rudolph for an 8-yard touchdown pass three plays later.
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“If Jonathan’s [injury] is prolonged”, Rivera said, “then we certainly will get an opportunity to see Cameron Artis-Payne out there which I’m pretty excited about because he is a heck of a young football player”.
