Vikings' Peterson Practices, Questionable For Game
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Adrian Peterson is again proving his amazing recuperative powers.
Peterson returned to practice Friday for the Minnesota Vikings with a sprained right foot, but his status for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles is questionable.
Peterson practiced after being held out on Wednesday and Thursday. The league's second-leading rusher with 1,221 yards spent the earlier part of the week in a walking boot and was restricted to work in a pool before Friday.
"Like our medical people mentioned to me on Monday, he's so different than everybody else when it comes to recovering from injuries," Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said. "We've been in situations in the past where you thought he wouldn't make it and then he made it. It was always in the back of my mind there was a chance he'd make it. He's amazing."
Frazier and Peterson wouldn't say for sure if the MVP running back would play Sunday, but both appeared optimistic after his work in practice on Friday.
"I feel pretty confident," Peterson said. "I feel pretty good. I'm excited I feel the way I do, based off the injury and the time I've had to kind of rejuvenate that body and rehab the foot to get the strength back."
Frazier said the decision could be taken all the way up until game-time. Peterson's backup, Toby Gerhart, is dealing with a hamstring injury and is questionable for the Vikings (3-9-1), too.
"We didn't really burst with him," Frazier said of Gerhart. "But everything he did stride-wise was good, did a good job cutting, did all the things you'd want to see with the exception of the burst. That will be the next step."
Peterson said he's not concerned about the groin injury he's played through for the past month and has given no thought to sitting out even with Minnesota officially eliminated from the playoffs.
"That's just not my mentality, leaving these guys out to dry, just because, what the heck, my passion for the game," Peterson said. "I love the game too much to sit out just because. If I'm out, you're going to know that he can't go."
The Vikings listed tight end John Carlson (concussion) and cornerback Josh Robinson (fractured sternum) out for Sunday's game. Right guard Brandon Fusco (knee) is doubtful.
The depth at cornerback is precarious, with rookie Xavier Rhodes (sprained ankle) listed as doubtful and Chris Cook (knee) showing up on the injury report for the first time on Friday. Cook was listed as limited and is questionable for Sunday.
"We've been thin there for a while," Frazier said. "Xavier's really been playing well for us. That will be a loss, but that gives some other guys opportunity to step up and play more, and we're going to need them to play well. They've got some good receivers that are playing really well for them and their quarterback is playing well also. So, gives some other guys some opportunities."
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