Peterson to start running Feb. 28

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is scheduled to start running on Feb. 28 as part of his rehabilitation from ACL surgery on Dec. 30.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is scheduled to start running on Feb. 28, he told KFAN 100.3 FM on Friday morning.

Peterson had surgery on Dec. 30 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and spent New Year’s in the hospital. After Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Alabama, Peterson returned to Minnesota to check in with the Vikings’ medical personnel and has since been rehabilitating in Houston and “working hard,” he said.

“I’m definitely making improvement. I’m starting to get my muscle tone and strength back into the legs,” Peterson told Paul Allen on KFAN. “I’m happy with the progress I’ve made so far. I’m extremely happy.”

Peterson said he should be able to start running on Feb. 28, but reiterated what Vikings trainers have been saying since his surgery – he has to be careful not to push his progress and try to do too much too soon. He said his physical therapist in Houston is making sure he adheres to the schedule.

“He’s making sure I’m doing the right things. It feels strong, but he doesn’t want me to push it too much,” said Peterson, who was in New Orleans Friday to attend the funeral for the wife of former Oklahoma Sooners and Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris.

Peterson said he is getting the flexibility back in his left knee and, while there is still some pain, it’s nothing compared to the first few days after the injury. The swelling is “almost completely gone,” he said.

The star running back, who leads the NFL with 6,752 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns since entering the league in 2007, will return to Minnesota at the end of February and stay through the beginning of March, he said.

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