Report: Adrian Peterson may not play week one for the Minnesota Vikings
Written by Adrian Gregory Glover // May 9, 2012 // News, NFL // No comments
MINNEAPOLIS- The Vikings new stadium bill is drawing attention away from the real story that may be the most troubling for the Vikings.
What is the return status of Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson?
When he was injured late last season, there was no inclination that his status for Week 1 for the upcoming season would be in jeopardy.
Today according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the team’s head trainer Eric Sugarman is not ready to commit to have “All-Day” back in the starting line-up on opening day.
“I love Adrian,” Sugarman said Tuesday. “But let’s make this clear: I’m still not going to be quoted as saying he’s going to play in the first game. That’s not fair. I don’t know that.”
Peterson of course has promised to return to the field on September 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“He’ll keep throwing that out there. And good for him,” Sugarman said. “That’s great. That’s obviously our goal, to get him playing the first game. But only if he’s functionally safe to do it. This is our franchise. We can’t be foolish about this.”
Peterson tore anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee and has already started to run to prepare for what he hopes to be his glorious comeback.
“Right now, when he tries to stop on a dime, he looks like he’s on ice,” Sugarman said. “That’s normal. Deceleration is the hardest thing for those guys. Now we’re starting to pound all that over the next couple months — function and deceleration. That should just take us right to where hopefully he needs to be.”
Sugarman for reasons that he stated should be cautious. However, Peterson has yet to suffer a setback in his rehab process and is said to be “80 percent” of his former self.
If things continue to move as they are, I’d cast my lot with the idea that September 9’s biggest headline may be Peterson vs. Jones-Drew.
