Another devastating injury was not what the Minnesota Vikings needed in what was supposed to be ‘their year’.
Unfortunately, that became a reality Sunday night.
Not only did Vikings LT Matt Kalil suffer a season-ending injury, but RB Adrian Peterson suffered a torn LCL and meniscus in his right knee during third quarter of the Vikings’ 17-14 win against the Green Bay Packers.
Though optimism about Peterson’s timetable for a return was high after reports surfaced that the injury may not be as bad as initially thought, ESPN’s Josina Anderson is now reporting that the RB has opted for surgery, one with recovery time that will likely put Adrian Peterson out for most of the 2016 season.
Peterson has what is known as “bucket handle tear.” I’m told that’s a minm of 3-4 months out & up 6months usually. Again Peterson has faith.
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 21, 2016
Though Peterson was off to the worst start of his career, statistically one of the worst by any running back in NFL history, it may not have been entirely his fault.
Vikings opponents were playing Minnesota on defense by loading the box to stop the run, disregarding Sean Hill and Sam Bradford who had been there for only one week.
Peterson averaged an astonishing seven inches before contact through two weeks this season, leading to the blame being put on the offensive line. With defenses now not concerned with the Vikings running game and stopping Peterson, defenses will lielly drop another man or two into the secondary to shut down Bradford and Diggs.
Though Peterson has not nearly been even close to the Viking’s best player this season, he is up there with the most important, simply for the fact that teams center their entire game plan around limiting him.
Regardless, Minnesota has one of the best defenses in the NFL, and if Sam Bradford can even remotely perform like he did in his first game with the team, the Vikings can still make the playoffs.
