Adrian Peterson downgraded, now ruled out
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowksi-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings already announced that they would be starting plodding back Matt Asiata for the second time this season in today’s finale against the Detroit Lions, and that announcement essentially confirmed that Adrian Peterson would also be listed inactive this week. The Vikings already ruled out Toby Gerhart, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, for today’s game, and they listed Peterson as doubtful with a foot sprain and a nagging groin issue. Peterson has always been determined to get on the field and play, but the injuries forced the Vikings to pull Peterson out of last week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals early in the second half. He wanted to play today, but the Vikings are wisely deciding to hold him out.
FOX Sports’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Vikings have officially downgraded Adrian Peterson from “doubtful” to “out”, and it was definitely the wisest move for the organization to make. No matter how much Peterson wants to be out there, it would have made no sense for him to play through nagging injuries in a meaningless game. The franchise’s icon needs an early start to the offseason, and health is always of paramount importance- give the Vikings a pat on the back for not falling into the temptation of wanting to beat a rival.
Peterson finishes the 2013 season with 1,266 yards on 279 carries for an average of 4.5 yards per carry, and he also took it to the house 11 times (ten touchdowns on the ground and one through the air). He averaged 90.4 yards per game, and it was another fine season for the future Hall of Famer.