Minnesota Vikings running back
Adrian Peterson will have surgery today to repair two torn
ligaments in his left knee, six days after he was injured in a
win against the Washington Redskins.

Peterson, 26, who is in his fifth season with the Vikings,
was selected for the Pro Bowl in each of his first four National
Football League seasons. He finished this season with 970 yards
rushing, after running for at least 1,298 yards in each
preceding season.

Peterson was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 26, two days
after tearing the anterior cruciate and medial collateral
ligaments in his left knee. Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman had
said the surgery would take place early in 2012.

“In this case, everything was in place to have the
surgery,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told reporters
yesterday. “He’s anxious to get his surgery done and get
started on his rehab.”

To contact the reporter on this story:
Rob Gloster in San Francisco at
rgloster@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has scheduled surgery to repair his left knee.

Dr. James Andrews will perform the operation Friday in Alabama, six days after Peterson tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee while being tackled in a game against the Washington Redskins.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Peterson will be back in Minnesota on Monday for the team’s season-ending meetings. His rehabilitation work will be done in Minnesota and his home state of Texas.

Peterson was on crutches Thursday when he entered the locker room, but he didn’t speak to reporters. He finished the season with 970 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing in 12 games.

The Vikings have said they expect him to be ready for next year’s opener.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson
has scheduled surgery to repair his left knee.

Dr. James Andrews will perform the operation Friday in Alabama, six days
after Peterson tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his
knee while being tackled in a game against the Washington Redskins.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Peterson will be back in Minnesota on Monday for
the team’s season-ending meetings. His rehabilitation work will be done in
Minnesota and his home state of Texas.

Peterson was on crutches Thursday when he entered the locker room, but he
didn’t speak to reporters. He finished the season with 970 yards and 12
touchdowns rushing in 12 games.

The Vikings have said they expect him to be ready for next year’s opener.

Read More: Josh McCown (QB – CHI), Michael Strahan (DE – NYG), Jared Allen (DE – MIN), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Kahlil Bell (RB – CHI), Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are 3-12 and without star running back Adrian Peterson heading into Week 17, but the Chicago Bears have lost five games in a row and are left with Josh McCown and Kahlil Bell to lead the offensive unit. Neither team expected to be in this situation at the end of the season, but now it’s about who can make the best of it. Bell has been running hard for the Bears, and may be looking to make a statement against the Vikings, the team that cut him before he made his way to Chicago. Meanwhile, Jared Allen needs 4.5 sacks to surpsass the NFL single-season record set by Michael Strahan. There are still some interesting aspects to a game that has no bearing on the playoff picture.

The five-man panel at CBS Sports has released picks for Week 17, and three out of five experts expect the Bears to lose the season finale. Pete Prisco explained his prediction of a Bears in the following way:

The Bears season went right down the drain when Jay Cutler got hurt. What could have been? Now they are playing a meaningless division road game to close it. How motivated will they be? The Vikings are at home, which is why they are the pick — even without Adrian Peterson. Vikings 21, Bears 21.

It wouldn’t be the best thing for the Vikings in terms of 2012 NFL Draft position, but no doubt the players on the field would love to cap the season with a victory.

For more on the Chicago Bears, head over to Windy City Gridiron. Vikings news is always available at Daily Norseman. Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more Chicago sports updates and breaking news.