Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has decided to undergo surgery on a torn meniscus and will miss and extended period of time.
#Vikings RB Adrian Peterson told me he's planning to have surgery on Thurs to repair his meniscus. He's "doing it with faith and optimism."
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 21, 2016
It pretty much is the worst-case scenario for Peterson and the Vikings. Earlier indications following Sunday night’s injury led some to believe Peterson might be able to play through the tear. Unfortunately for both the running back and the team, that’s not going to be the case.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson goes on to report that Peterson has what’s being called a “bucket tear” in the knee, an injury that usually requires three-to-six months of recovery time. This means he could potentially be lost for the season.
Coupled with the torn ACL starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered during the preseason, the Vikings now face an uncertain future moving forward this season.
While the team was able to trade for Sam Bradford to replace Bridgewater, the likes of Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon will be called on to replace Peterson for the next several months.
Peterson, a future Hall of Fame running back, led the NFL in rushing last season. Losing him for an extended period of time is potentially more impactful than being without Bridgewater for the season.