Minnesota Vikings: Who is Adrian Peterson’s backup?
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson suffered what could be a serious right knee injury Sunday night. So who is his backup?
The Minnesota Vikings mostly had a good night Sunday night, with a strong defensive effort spearheading a win over their rival Green Bay Packers in the first regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has had a slow start to the 2016 season, with 19 carries for 31 yards in Week 1 and similarly lackluster results (12 carries for 19 yards) Sunday night. But on that 12th carry, Peterson had his right leg rolled up on as he was being tackled and he was slow to get up.
Peterson had to be taken off the field, and to the locker room, with assistance. If the images from the broadcast weren’t grim enough, with Peterson putting no weight on the injured leg, indications from the team’s public relations Twitter account weren’t any more optimistic.
#Vikings RB Adrian Peterson has been ruled out with a knee injury.
— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) September 19, 2016
With further medical tests to come, Peterson may be facing an extended absence. So who, you ask, is Peterson’s backup?
Check out these other NFL posts from FanSided:
Top 10 craziest NFL fan bases
Top 15 NFL Draft busts of all-time
Top 15 Heisman winners who flopped in the NFL
The Vikings have been here before, when Peterson missed all but one game of the 2014 season. He only played Week 1, before charges were brought in Texas for taking a “switch” to one of his children and the NFL essentially suspended him for the rest of that season.
In Peterson’s absence two years ago, then-rookie Jerick McKinnon, a third-round pick out of Georgia Southern, stepped in to a larger role. The option quarterback in college acquitted himself nicely, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and catching 27 passes in 11 games in his first season. Matt Asiata was the “Thunder” to McKinnon’s “Lightning” in 2014, with nine rushing touchdowns and 44 receptions of his own while playing 15 games.
Related Story: Adrian Peterson suffers knee injury on SNF
For however long Peterson is out, assuming he does miss some time, McKinnon and Asiata would likely split the workload much the same way they did two years ago. Fullback Zach Line may also get a stray carry or two in games, but McKinnon and Asiata would effectively be dual lead backs for the Vikings.