Read More: adrian peterson injury, Adrian Peterson (RB – MIN), Mickey Shuler (TE – MIN), Allen Reisner (TE – MIN), Caleb King (RB – MIN), Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson’s knee injury has landed the All-Pro running back on the injured reserve, effectively ending the season for the Minnesota Vikings running back. In a corresponding move, the Vikings signed Caleb King from the team’s practice squad.

Peterson’s season ended with a torn ACL, a torn ACL and further damage to his meniscus as well, and while his status for the beginning of next season could be in doubt, Peterson put forth a solid effort this season for a losing team. The fifth-year pro ran for 970 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games for the Vikings, overcoming a high ankle sprain before the knee injury took him out of action for good.

King has yet to make his NFL debut after being a player on the Vikings practice squad thus far this season, but the rookie running back carried the ball 80 times for 430 yards for the Georgia Bulldogs last season.

The Vikings also waived tight end Allen Reisner on Monday while promoting Mickey Shuler from the practice squad.

If you’ve ever seen the movie Friday Night Lights when James “Boobie” Miles injures his knee after a defender tackles him from the side, then you know of the pain that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had to endure.

This past Saturday, during the Vikings’ game against the Washington Redskins, Peterson’s knee took a shot from the side a la Miles that made spectators everywhere cringe. As many of you know, knees aren’t supposed to go sideways. Well, Peterson’s did and it wasn’t pleasant to watch.

After suffering the injury, Peterson was helped off of the field before being carted to the locker room. It was immediately speculated on that he had torn his ACL and sure enough, he had.

“An MRI this evening revealed that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson suffered a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,” the team said in a statemen t released on Saturday night.

On Monday, Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier and team head trainer Eric Sugarman addressed the media regarding Peterson’s injury. According to Sugarman, Peterson not only tore his ACL but also his MCL.

“[Adrian] did tear the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, also did tear the medical collateral ligament in that knee,” Sugarman confirmed.

Fortunately for Peterson and the Vikings, the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) did not sustain any damage. The last key Vikings player to pull off a trifecta (ACL, MCL, PCL) was quarterback Daunte Culpepper back in 2005. For those of you who weren’t around to witness that, Culpepper was never the same after his recovery and the Vikings haven’t had a quality quarterback since (don’t you dare bring up that old geezer from 2009).

The Vikings’ All-Pro running back will undergo surgery to repair the ligaments in the next 7-10 days, although the surgeon who will operate on Peterson has yet to be determined. Typically, this type of injury involves 8-9 months of rehab before the knee returns to full mobility. Following that guideline, it’s not expected that Peterson will be back in the lineup until the opening week of the 2012 NFL regular season.

Despite this extended timetable for recovery from what appeared to be a potential career-ending injury, Frazier and Sugarman are confident that Peterson will bounce back quicker and stronger than expected.

“He’ll be the guy that people look at and say, ‘Wow! Look at Adrian Peterson. He’s just as good or better than before the surgery,’” Frazier said. “Adrian will be back to play at the start of next season. I think he’ll turn out to be one of those case studies people look at when they want to see how a guy rehabbed to come back strong.”

According to Frazier, the Vikings will likely promote practice squad running back Caleb King to the active roster in response to Peterson’s injury. He will act as the third running back behind Toby Gerhart and Lorenzo Booker.

Don’t be blindfolded by the team’s optimism, though. Tearing both the ACL and MCL is a horrendous injury for any athlete to deal with, even an athlete as remarkable as Peterson. The recovery process is going to be a long one and no one can be sure whether or not we’ll ever see the same AP that gave defensive coordinators nightmares for the last five years. The only thing to do at this point is wait patiently in hopes that Peterson is back at it in 2012, wreaking havoc for the Vikings like so many have grown accustomed to.

For a team that’s had more than its fair share of setbacks this season, the Vikings couldn’t have imagined anything much worse than losing their prized possession to an injury of this magnitude.

Like the old saying goes: when it rains, it pours.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

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LANDOVER, Md. — In many ways, Christmas 2011 for the Minnesota Vikings should have been defined by an inspiring slogan, an 11-word adage delivered by Joe Webb from the postgame podium at FedEx Field.

“Stay prepared,” Webb said. “And when your opportunity comes, take advantage of it.”

In a perfect world, Webb’s words would have been the neat way for the Vikings to package their 33-26 victory over the Washington Redskins, as the backup quarterback sparked a second-half eruption with three touchdowns.

Yet Webb was only a small part of the story. The far more significant scene from an otherwise pleasant Christmas Eve came on the first play after halftime. That’s when Adrian Peterson took a handoff from Christian Ponder and was drilled in the left knee by Redskins safety DeJon Gomes.

Peterson’s left leg was planted at the time and had little give. Instead, it bent sideways and left the Vikings’ superstar face down on the grass writhing in agony.

A magnetic resonance imaging exam Saturday night confirmed Peterson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. That injury could keep Peterson from being available to the Vikings at the start of the 2012 season.

His first thoughts?

“Oh Lord,” Peterson said after the game, before he received the diagnosis. “I just knew something bad happened.”

Percy Harvin knew immediately Peterson was in trouble, promptly waving for the Vikings’ medical staff to rush out.

“You don’t ever want to see that,” Harvin said. “As soon as he went down, with the pain he was grimacing with, you know something was wrong. … I kind of (glanced at) his whole body, saw his leg and knew it was bad.”

Peterson seemed downright disconsolate as he stood on crutches and talked to reporters in the locker room after the game. Both he and the team were bracing for the worst. The Vikings said coach Leslie Frazier would give a further update on the injury Monday.

“Some people told me what they saw on TV and they said it looked pretty bad,” Frazier said immediately after the game. “I’m just hoping and praying it’s not what I’m being told.”

As if Peterson’s injury wasn’t bad enough, on the next play Ponder took a vicious shot to the head while being sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher, producing concussion-like symptoms that ended the rookie quarterback’s day prematurely.

But this is where a woeful season – the Vikings (3-12) seemed to be in the hunt for the No. 1 overall draft choice if they lost their final two games and Indianapolis won next week – has its silver lining, however small it may be.

This was a lesson in patience, an uplifting moment for a 25-year-old reserve who seems to always respond when called upon.

LANDOVER, Md. — Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson tore a ligament in his left knee Saturday after taking a direct hit in a 33-26 win over the Washington Redskins.

An MRI showed the anterior cruciate ligament tear after the team returned to Minnesota.

Peterson said he knew “it was something bad” the moment he was hit and that he was in “severe pain” on he lay on the field. He was hurt when tackled by Redskins safety DeJon Gomes at the end of a 3-yard gain on the first offensive play of the second half.

“Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you’re concerned about the ACL, MCL,” Peterson said as he stood on crutches in the locker room. “I’m trying to stay as positive as I can.”

The torn ACL would likely sideline Peterson for some nine months and make it difficult for him to return for the start of next season.

On the play after Peterson was hurt, Minnesota’s Christian Ponder suffered a head injury when sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher. Ponder remained in the game for one more play — a third-down incomplete pass — before heading to the locker room.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Ponder had “concussion-like symptoms.” The coach said he’s uncertain whether the quarterback will play in next week’s season finale against the Chicago Bears.

“We’ll have to weigh it when we get back,” Frazier said, “and I’ll follow the doctor’s lead.”

Peterson had 12 carries for 38 yards when he left. He also had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Ponder completed 8 of 13 passes for 68 yards. He was replaced by Joe Webb, who scored on a 9-yard run on the next series to give the Vikings the lead.

___

Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LANDOVER, Md. — Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson tore a ligament in his left knee Saturday after taking a direct hit in a 33-26 win over the Washington Redskins.

An MRI showed the anterior cruciate ligament tear after the team returned to Minnesota.

Peterson said he knew “it was something bad” the moment he was hit and that he was in “severe pain” on he lay on the field. He was hurt when tackled by Redskins safety DeJon Gomes at the end of a 3-yard gain on the first offensive play of the second half.

“Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you’re concerned about the ACL, MCL,” Peterson said as he stood on crutches in the locker room. “I’m trying to stay as positive as I can.”

The torn ACL would likely sideline Peterson for some nine months and make it difficult for him to return for the start of next season.

On the play after Peterson was hurt, Minnesota’s Christian Ponder suffered a head injury when sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher. Ponder remained in the game for one more play — a third-down incomplete pass — before heading to the locker room.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Ponder had “concussion-like symptoms.” The coach said he’s uncertain whether the quarterback will play in next week’s season finale against the Chicago Bears.

“We’ll have to weigh it when we get back,” Frazier said, “and I’ll follow the doctor’s lead.”

Peterson had 12 carries for 38 yards when he left. He also had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Ponder completed 8 of 13 passes for 68 yards. He was replaced by Joe Webb, who scored on a 9-yard run on the next series to give the Vikings the lead.

___

Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

By James Brady

– Newsdesk contributor

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Dec 23, 2011 – It’s the end of an era of sorts for the Minnesota Vikings. While that’s a phrase rarely used for tight ends, let alone blocking tight ends, it’s certainly apt when talking about Jim Kleinsasser. On Friday, the Star Tribune reported that Kleinsasser planned to retire from the NFL after this season, after spending 13 years not just playing in the NFL, but playing wearing the Vikings purple.

Kleinsasser is calling it a career on his own terms, while he still feels like he’s totally healthy and could return for a 14th season if he wanted to. Kleinsasser had some quotes about the retirement, and he explains it below:

“I still feel like I can play,” Kleinsasser said Thursday. “I’m walking away with two legs that work great and my head is still intact, so I think I feel good about leaving the game right now and just kind of moving on.”

He was drafted in the second round in 1999, taken with the 44th overall pick and has been a starter as a blocking tight end for all of his 13 years. He’s been one of the better blocking tight ends around the league and that’s not really up for debate. His presence will certainly be missed in the locker room and most definitely on the field.

Kleinsasser has been the blocker for 1000-yard rushers such as Adrian Peterson, Michael Bennett, Robert Smith and Chester Taylor, and has a respectable 1688 yards and six touchdowns over his career as a blocker.

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Video from the St. Paul Pioneer Press | TwinCities.com.

The Minnesota Vikings faced a quarterback they simply couldn’t
stop. Christian Ponder saw a future role model.

Drew Brees threw for 412 yards in a little more than three
quarters for New Orleans and got his fifth touchdown pass before
Ponder’s fifth completion, leading the surging Saints to their
sixth straight victory, 42-20 over the Vikings on Sunday.

The ever-cool Brees completed 32 of 40 passes to help the Saints
(11-3) overcome two first-half turnovers and stay two games ahead
of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. Ponder was 4 for 13 for 18
yards with 12 1/2 minutes remaining in the game until padding his
statistics with the game long out of reach.

But the rookie, despite looking as rattled as he has all season,
said his confidence wasn’t shaken.

“You live for the ups, obviously. You learn from the downs, and
that’s what I’m trying to do,” Ponder said. “I know here in the
future we’re going to have a lot more ups than downs.”

Brees set an NFL season record with his 11th game of 300-plus
yards passing against a struggling secondary that was further
depleted with the loss of starting cornerback Asher Allen to a
concussion.

“For me it’s motivation,” Ponder said. “I always want to be the
best guy on the field, and obviously Drew is a heck of a
quarterback and one of the better quarterbacks in the league, and I
want to be better than him one day. I use that as motivation to get
better and prove that one day I’ll be in his spot, winning a lot of
games and going to the playoffs.”

The Saints allowed the third-most yards passing in the league
coming into the game, but they flustered Ponder and the Vikings all
afternoon. He had little time to throw, taking four sacks, and his
receivers couldn’t get any separation. Ponder finished 14 for 31
for 120 yards and two touchdown passes to Toby Gerhart, plus an
interception. But even with Adrian Peterson back in the lineup
after missing three games to a sprained left ankle, the Vikings
(2-12) were as impotent on offense as they’ve been all season.
Given two early gifts when the Saints lost fumbles in their own
territory, they managed only two field goals.

“I don’t think I did a good job of getting my guys prepared for
what they were going to face today,” coach Leslie Frazier said.

Frazier hesitated to express disappointment in Ponder’s
performance, insisting he consider the final two games before
gauging whether this was a regression for the first-round draft
pick who started strong when he took over for Donovan McNabb eight
games ago.

“I still think in this case you have to be able to look at the
long view,” Frazier said. “Today was a tough day, no questions
about it, but there were some other factors involved that created a
long day for him as well as our team and offense.”

Peterson rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries.

“I don’t know how to explain 10 carries. I was ready to roll. I
just do my job,” Peterson said. “When I’m called upon, I just try
to go out there and execute. We got behind so we kind of had to
turn more into a passing team. That didn’t work either.”

He also said he was displeased by the team’s effort.

“A lot of missed tackles defensively, a lot of missed
opportunities offensively,” Peterson said.

With Cedric Griffin benched, and Chris Cook and Antoine Winfield
already out, Benny Sapp, Marcus Sherels and Brandon Burton were
left to cover the Saints wide array of talented receivers. And even
when they had tight coverage on the outside, the Vikings couldn’t
get any pressure on Brees, who simply stepped up in the pocket
while his tackles pushed Jared Allen and Brian Robison up the
field.

Brees completed seven passes to tight end Jimmy Graham and five
to running back Darren Sproles, several of them simple but
well-timed screen passes that gained big chunks of yards.

“Guys have to play with no fear, including myself,” Sapp said.
“We’ve got to go out there and make plays.”

The defensive backs weren’t the only ones who weren’t doing
that.

“It’s frustrating, it’s embarrassing and it’s a terrible
feeling,” Allen said. “I know other guys feel the same way.”

Notes: LG Steve Hutchinson left the game with a cut on his lip
that needed stitches and didn’t return. … Sapp was held out of
the first two plays for an unspecified disciplinary reason. …
Percy Harvin was held to 8 yards on three receptions and lost 1
yard on his only carry.