SB Nation Minnesota - Adrian Peterson Injury Seems To Be A Thing Of The Past

Adrian Peterson Injury Not Completely Healed, But Leg Is 'Getting Better'

2012-09-21T13:19:04Z

It hasn't seemed like Adrian Peterson is feeling the effects of the season-ending knee injury he suffered last year, but the Minnesota Vikings running back said on Thursday that he still isn't completely healthy. He's close enough, though, and says he's getting better each week.

Peterson told Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press that he's getting closer to where he wants to be, but he's not there quite yet:

"Each week I feel myself improving; the leg is getting stronger and more stable,. The body's feeling good, and I'll be ready to roll."

It'll be interesting to see if Peterson ever thinks he's back to his pre-injury condition considering the extent of the injury, but even 80 percent of All Day isn't a bad thing.

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Adrian Peterson Says He's At 95 Percent, And The Other 5 Will Make A Huge Difference

2012-09-13T19:39:49Z

Adrian Peterson showed that he's, in so many words, "the man" on Sunday. He carried the ball 17 times for 84 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars after an offseason that was spent rehabbing major reconstructive surgery on his knee. Many expected that he wouldn't play, while those who thought he would didn't expect him to receive more than a few carries. But Peterson himself carried on and on about him being good to go prior to the start of Week 1.

Now, Peterson says he's at 95 percent, and according to him, that other five percent will make a huge difference. The Star Tribune had a quote from him on the subject:

"It don't sound like much from the outside looking in, but I know my game and I know where I want to be," Peterson said. "And it's going to be huge once I get 100 percent. Like night and day. Seriously. I'm just keeping that in mind. I'm excited just to continue to strengthen this leg and do what I need to do to get there and push to be 100 percent. So I really can go out and perform the way I want to."

When a player makes declarations like this, it's easy to write it off. But considering the fact that Peterson has been the only one speaking the truth throughout all of this, it's even easier to believe him. It's true that he's more-than capable of getting 84 yards on any given day, especially against a team like the Jaguars. So if gets that extra five percent in there prior to Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, then Minnesota could find themselves in the win column.

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Adrian Peterson Injury Seems To Be No More

2012-09-11T15:18:13Z

After undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, Adrian Peterson carried the ball 17 times for 84 yards on Sunday in the Vikings' season opener. He also rushed for a pair of scores and had a reception for three yards. The speed of his recovery was shocking, and it doesn't appear that he's suffering any ill effects from Sunday's game.

Peterson and the Vikings did not report any sort of swelling or soreness in the surgically repaired joint on Monday, and Peterson is expected to be the starter again this weekend as the Vikings head to Indianapolis on Sunday. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier stopped short of calling Peterson a 25-carry-a-game back at this point, but he's indicated that Peterson is still likely to play a significant role as he continues to amaze with the speed of his recovery.

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Adrian Peterson Likely To Be Game-Time Decision

2012-09-08T21:46:01Z

Adrian Peterson's status was supposed to be decided by Saturday morning, but it's looking more and more likely like he'll be a game-time decision. Head coach Leslie Frazier said it just doesn't make sense to make a decision sooner than he has to regarding the Minnesota Vikings' All-Pro running back.

Peterson has said he's ready to play, but the Vikings have decided to wait ... and wait, according to Frazier.

"There's no reason to make a decision before Sunday," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said after today's practice. "We're going to talk with him again tomorrow to see how he feels."

Until Thursday, Frazier had been saying it would be a game-time decision. But Thursday came and he said the team would know Friday night or Saturday whether Peterson will play.

It'll be interesting to see the final decision, but it sounds like he'll play regardless -- the only thing still up in the air is likely how much he plays.

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Adrian Peterson Says Sitting Would Be 'Hard Pill To Swallow'

2012-09-07T16:19:19Z

Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson continues to hint that he would prefer to play in the team's Week 1 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he is ultimately saying the right things and leaving some room for the Vikings to sit him if it is deemed necessary. Dan Wiederer and Mark Craig of the Star Tribune have the latest quotes from Peterson regarding his status for Sunday:

"Sometimes you might not agree," Peterson said. "But ultimately [you're OK] when you know someone, when you know their intention and you know their heart, and you know they're doing what's best for you."

Just a little more than eight months since having surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee, Peterson has put himself in position to play in the opening week and said "it will be a hard pill to swallow" if he's told he can't.

The Vikings host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 9 in their 2012 NFL regular season opener.

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Adrian Peterson Injury: Status Update To Come By Saturday Morning

2012-09-07T15:59:07Z

Adrian Peterson feels like he's ready to go on Sunday, for the opener between the Minnesota Vikings and the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that doesn't mean he's going to play for sure. Peterson is recovering from major reconstructive surgery on his knee and it would be a mistake for the Vikings to rush him back from the injury. As such, the Vikings have made him a gametime decision.

Actually, he'll be a Saturday decision. According to the Star Tribune, Leslie Frazier has said there will be a decision on Peterson before Sunday:

Peterson will likely be given a red or a green light sometime in the next 40 hours or so. Frazier said following this afternoon's practice that "I don't want to be conclusive on Thursday" but then followed by asserting that the Vikings would have all the information they'd need to make a decision on their star running back by Friday night or Saturday morning.

Friday is the final day for official injury reports for Sunday games, so when those come out, we might have a better idea on his status. Either way, if Peterson is in action on Sunday, it's likely he wouldn't get significant playing time. He'll liekly get a few carries and give way primarily to Toby Gerhart, his backup. All that is certain is that the Vikings aren't going to jeopardize Peterson getting re-injured and missing more time just to get him back a week early.

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Adrian Peterson Injury: Status Sounds Good As He's 'Ready To Roll'

2012-09-06T19:11:30Z

The Minnesota Vikings have been continually adamant that running back Adrian Peterson would not be rushed back from his injuries in order to play in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They said as much when Peterson suffered the dual ACL and MCL injuries, and they've said the same things through the entire process. Peterson, on the other hand, has been pretty excited about the potential of getting in the game as soon as possible.

In a piece from the Pioneer Press, Peterson is quoted as saying he's ready to roll, regardless of what the snap count is:

Coach Leslie Frazier has preached patience with the team's prized investment, not wanting to rush him back and jeopardize further injury. Backup Toby Gerhart is good insurance until Peterson is ready.

That time is now, Peterson says. "If that's 10 snaps, five, 25, 30 -- I'm ready to roll," Peterson said.

Peterson could be ready to play, but that doesn't mean he's going to. Minnesota faces a somewhat favorable matchup against the Jaguars on Sunday and the team could elect to play it very safe with their franchise running back by holding him out until Week 2. Being ready to go and actually getting cleared to play are two entirely different things.

Still, there are some who believe Peterson is guaranteed to play barring a setback. Tom Pelissero believes that Peterson will get anywhere from five to 10 carries in the game if all things go well prior to Sunday.

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Adrian Peterson Won't Play On Special Teams, Either

2012-09-03T21:04:09Z

Adrian Peterson's status for the Minnesota Vikings first game of the season has been up in the air ever since the gruesome injury occurred last winter. Coach Leslie Frazier said he would get limited exposure in the season opener and, thankfully, none of said exposure sounds like it will take place on special teams.

That doesn't mean that All Day hasn't tried to get in some special teams duty, however, as special teams coordinator Mike Priefer told the Bob Sansevere of the Pioneer Press that Peterson asks about special teams action "every day."

Adrian Peterson asks me every day to be on special teams. I'm not going to put him on special teams for obvious reasons. But I get to know everybody, and they get to know me. I saw how my dad had a positive influence on people. That's what I want to do.

Peterson really does want to sneak on to the field any way possible, huh?

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