Peterson Reports No Post-Game Setbacks

Running back Adrian Peterson has been the subject of much debate – should the Vikings play him this season or not after he suffered a torn ligament on Nov. 11? The day after his first action, a 100-yard effort, he told trainers he felt as good as he has all year long.

The Vikings were accused by some of trying to rush Adrian Peterson’s recovery after the rookie running back suffered a slightly torn lateral collateral ligament on Nov. 11 at Green Bay.

But a day after Peterson rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns in a 42-10 victory over Detroit, he reported no problems with his knee.

“He said he feels as good as he has felt all year long,” coach Brad Childress said Monday. “That is what Sug (trainer Eric Sugarman) said to me. He came in and was treated and was off to the races on an off day.”

Peterson has been “off to the races” in nearly every game he has played this season. Sunday marked the sixth time in 10 games this season that he has rushed for more than 100 yards.

He continues to lead the NFL with 1,197 yards rushing on 184 carries, and he has scored 10 touchdowns.

The Vikings’ victory over Detroit gives them a three-game winning streak entering Sunday’s game at San Francisco. Peterson is again expected to play a big role, likely once again sharing carries with Chester Taylor.

Taylor had 14 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. He has rushed for 615 yards on 128 carries with six touchdowns.

NOTES

After the Vikings evened their record at 6-6 and extended their winning streak to three games with the victory over Detroit, LB Chad Greenway was asked about the possibly positive impact of a 34-0 loss to Green Bay on Nov. 11. That was the Vikings’ last defeat.

“I think everybody in this locker room kind of was on the same page for the first eight games that we knew we were a good football team,” he said. “We just had to figure out a way to get it done. Maybe that Green Bay game was a wake-up call for us. But you know we lose the (first) Detroit game by three on a field goal. We lose the Chiefs game by three. We knew we were close; we just couldn’t get it done. We’ve just got to keep feeling the gas pedal. We’ve got a long ways to go.”

WR Aundrae Allison on his franchise-record 103-yard kick return for a touchdown in the second quarter of the Vikings’ victory over Detroit: “It played out real well. I saw them come out in an unorthodox style of kickoff coverage, so I knew they had a lot of people lined up over to the other side and called a bounce-right. So I felt like it was a good time to bring it out. There were a lot of great blocks throughout the whole thing. It was the fake up the middle and a bounce to the right. When I came out to the right, there were two gaps I could have chose. I could have went to the outside, but I just cut up on the first one I saw, and I knew I just had to make the kicker miss.”

Coach Brad Childress on if his team could have played much better against the Lions: “There is a bunch of things that you can see on tape. ... What could they have done better, what angle could they have taken better, what technique could they have used better? You’re never satisfied. You don’t want to be satisfied. The number one thing that gets in the way of success is complacency, and if you’re satisfied, you’re usually complacent.”

S Mike Doss suffered a slight hamstring strain against the Lions on Sunday. His status for this weekend’s game at San Francisco is uncertain.

CB Marcus McCauley was receiving treatment Monday for a shoulder stringer he suffered against the Lions. He left the game briefly but was able to return. McCauley has been playing in place of the injured Antoine Winfield.

FB Tony Richardson continues to play despite an MCL injury suffered Nov. 18 against Oakland.

WR Troy Williamson will continued to be monitored this week after missing Sunday’s game because of a concussion suffered on Nov. 25 against the New York Giants.

CB Antoine Winfield (hamstring) has missed four of the past five games, and his status for Sunday at San Francisco remains uncertain.