Adrian Peterson’s Injury News: Here’s How the Vikings Would Benefit from It

By Carlo Monzon
Adrian Peterson
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14.  Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Following Teddy Bridgewater's injury, the Minnesota Vikings are facing another problem after it was confirmed that Adrian Peterson has torn meniscus in his right knee. However, this doesn't automatically mean that the Vikings will get a replacement running back.

On Monday, after defeating the Green Bay Packers, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer confirmed Peterson's injury. It is not yet clear if he will be able to play with the team when they go up against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

But, as the Vikings have showed over and over again, they are a resilient team. As noted by Football Insiders, they might even do better if Peterson is temporarily not in the active roster.

For instance, in 2014, Peterson was suspended due to a domestic abuse case. As his penalty, he had to miss 15 games. During those times, running backs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata stepped up to take his place on the field.

The same scenario will most likely happen on Sunday during the Vikings' game against the Panthers. Asiata and McKinnon will interchangeably run the ball for Minnesota and given their individual talents, there's a good chance that the Vikings will dominate the Panthers.

Zimmer even said that he already believes that Asiata and McKinnon will be able to carry the team in Peterson's absence.

"Yeah, I have a lot of confidence in those two guys," he said. "They're both different types of runners but I think the combination of the two can help us."
"So we're going to keep plugging away, and keep to do our very best to try to find a way to win," he added.

Also, with Peterson's absence, Zimmer will most likely employ a more fluid type of offensive plays. Before, many of the team's plays usually revolved around throwing the ball to Peterson. But with him out, the coach could employ dynamic strategies that will explore other options of getting the ball to the endzone.
As noted by safety Harrison Smith, Bridgewater and Peterson's injuries will not hinder the team in winning games.

"I don't want to say you just plug in the next guy, because you don't replace Teddy, you don't replace Adrian," he said. "But you don't want to hang your head and say, ‘here we go again.' You just got to push forward."

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.

Top Stories