Vikings' Adrian Peterson Tore ACL & MCL
Written by Bob Whalon, Monday December 26 2011
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has a torn ACL and MCL and his availability for the beginning of the 2012 NFL season is now very much in doubt.
The team expects their star running back to be ready for the start of next season, but in most instances players aren't fully recovered from this type of injury for a full year.
"We expect most people to recover from this injury in eight to nine months and instead of comparing Adrian to any other player at any level that's had an anterior cruciate ligament, and they happen every day, I would really like Adrian to stand on his own merit because Adrian, I feel, is very unique," Vikings head trainer Eric Sugerman said on Monday. "Adrian has a great work ethic. Adrian has the DNA to heal quickly, which he has shown in the past. He certainly will have the desire and mental toughness to be able to get through the rehab process, which will take months and months, as you know. So, I think if anyone can get better quickly and safely in that time period, it would be Adrian Peterson."
Peterson suffered the injury on Saturday when Washington Redskins safety DeJon Gomes hit the side of his knee in the third quarter. An MRI after the game revealed the damage and the team announced that Peterson will undergo surgery within the next seven to ten days.
"He sets his goals extremely high and he's one of those guys who, when he puts his mind to it, there's no reason to ever doubt that he can achieve what he sets his mind to," Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said about Peterson. "I know our medical staff and they're going to do everything they can to get him back on the field and ready to go when we line up in that first football game next season."
If Peterson isn't ready, Toby Gerhart will take his place. Gerhart was drafted in the second round in 2010 and started three games earlier this year when Peterson missed time with a high-ankle sprain. He recorded the first 100-yard game of his career on Saturday with 109 yards on 11 carries against the Redskins.
"One of the things about Adrian's absence earlier in the season, we had a chance to get Toby some extended snaps and he has done a very good job," Frazier said.
Be that as it may, there is a reason the Vikings gave Peterson a seven-year, $100 million contract extension before the season started. That's because he is the best running back in the NFL. He has rushed for 6,752 yards and 64 TDs during his five-year career. He will finish this season with 970 yards and 12 TDs.
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