After returning to action last week, Adrian Peterson has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Packers.
I’m sorry, Minnesota Vikings fans, Adrian Peterson coming back from injury to save your season isn’t happening. The return was highly anticipated after Peterson battled back from a torn meniscus. It was the running back’s first action since Week 2 and it didn’t go well. The Indianapolis Colts crushed the Vikings and Peterson ran for just 22 yards and fumbled once.
Peterson won’t have a chance to redeem himself this week as he has been ruled out for the Christmas Eve game vs. the Green Bay Packers.
The #Vikings have ruled RB Adrian Peterson out for tomorrow's game vs #Packers.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2016
Heading into last week there was some speculation as to whether Peterson playing was a very good idea. He didn’t look good early in the season and the Vikings playoff chances were slipping away by the week. Now, it seems any hope of a playoff berth is a distant memory. The Vikings sit two games back in the NFC North and the Wild Card isn’t looking likely either.
The truth is many were expecting too much from Peterson. We all know how dominant he has been in his career, but he’s no longer the same back at age 31. This isn’t to say he has nothing left in the tank but he was running behind a dreadful offensive line on a bad knee.
Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best RB of All-Time
The team will now head into their must-win Week 16 game against the red-hot Packers with plodder Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon at running back. If the Vikings lose tomorrow, Peterson will almost certainly be shut down for the season.
The future is unclear for Peterson who is owed $18 million next year and he may be a cap casualty, but he has made it very clear he intends on five more years.
After starting the season 5-0 the Vikings have gone 2-7 since. This weekend could very well be the nail in the coffin.