The 2011 NFL regular season is over and a 3-13 record has landed the Minnesota Vikings as far away from a trip to the playoffs as they could have imagined.

So now that the 2011 campaign has come to an end, the Vikings have their sights set on preparing for the 2012 season. Although free agency doesn’t start until the first week of March and they still have over four months before the 2012 NFL Draft, the Vikings made some of the only moves they could make to secure players for the future.

On Monday, the Vikings signed all seven of their practice squad players to reserve/future contracts. Once the regular season ended after their loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the Vikings had one week to sign members of their practice squad before they became free agents. With these signings, the Vikings have secured their seven young talents at least until the 2012 preseason.

Among those signings were wide receivers Kris Adams and Kerry Taylor, guards Chris DeGeare and Butch Lewis, cornerback Reggie Jones, linebacker Tyrone McKenzie and tight end Allen Reisner. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

The only one of these seven players to see the field this season for the Vikings was Reisner. Although he enjoyed two stints on the Vikings’ practice squad in 2011, Reisner also appeared in six games and caught one pass for five yards.

DeGeare is the only other player besides Reisner that was signed today who has seen game day action in the NFL. Drafted by Vikings in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest, DeGeare played in eight games (five starts) throughout the 2010 season.

McKenzie was a third-round selection by the New England Patriots in 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jones spent his rookie 2010 season with both the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins. The rest of the Vikings signees were all rookies this past season.

These seven players will all be around when the Vikings open up team workouts in a few months with the opportunity to earn a roster spot for the 2012 season.

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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The nightmare is finally over.

The Minnesota Vikings have finally found the end to their disappointing 2011 season, losing 13 games and a large chunk of their dignity in the process. At least they can hang their hats on knowing that they didn’t go out without a fight.

The Vikings played their season finale on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Playing for nothing more than pride and draft positioning, the Vikings came out and left everything they had to spare from this dismal season out of the field. Through all four quarters, they battled on, never taking their eyes off of the task at hand.

“I expressed my appreciation for the fight they’ve shown throughout the year, as difficult as it has been,” Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said. “To show the resolve they have to keep coming back and fighting – you just don’t always see that when you approach the month of December in the fashion that we [did].”

Unfortunately, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Bears and their stout defense, who ended the season at 8-8 after a close 17-13 victory over the Vikings.

The headline story for the Vikings, however, wasn’t the fact that they lost or that they ended the season at 3-13. Instead, it was Vikings defensive end Jared Allen who stole the show from the Bears.

Allen, who came into the game with a league-leading 18.5 sacks, was on a mission to hunt down Michael Strahan’s NFL single-season record of 22.5 sacks. Although it seemed nearly impossible at first, Allen was soon nipping at history’s heels.

Through three quarters of play, Allen had notched 3.5 sacks on Bears quarterback Josh McCown and had Strahan’s record within reach. Unfortunately, the game situation and the Vikings’ lack of offensive success didn’t allow Allen many more opportunities. When the game was over, Allen had 22 sacks on the season. He may have fallen short of the NFL record, but the Vikings’ team record for most sacks in a season was his.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to have the Vikings single-season record,” Allen said after the game. “To be in the same breath as [Chris] Doleman, Alan Page and those guys – this organization has a history of just dominant defensive linemen, so to be at the top of that is a true honor.”

Former Vikings defensive lineman Chris Doleman previously held the record at 21 sacks, but is glad to have Allen take his place at the top of the Vikings sack list.

“You can’t not be happy for a guy like that,” Doleman said on Allen breaking his record.

Regardless of Allen’s run at history, the Vikings still fell short on the scoreboard.

Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder struggled while he was in, throwing for 28 yards and one interception while completing four of his ten passes. After Ponder was knocked out of the game with a right hip pointer, Joe Webb was inserted into the lineup. Despite throwing two interceptions, Webb completed 17 of his 32 passes for 200 yards and continued to give the Vikings reason to believe that he might be a better option than Ponder.

Running back Toby Gerhart, filling in for the injured Adrian Peterson, carried the ball 15 times for 67 yards before falling to a sprained MCL.

The Vikings’ offensive stud of the game was wide receiver Percy Harvin, who caught 10 passes for 115 yards and ran the ball five times for 13 yards. His five-yard touchdown scamper was the only trip to the end zone on the day for the Vikings.

Apart from Allen’s 3.5 sacks, four other Vikings managed to notch a sack against the Bears. Linebacker Chad Greenway and defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Brian Robison each had one, and linebacker Erin Henderson added half a sack. Cornerback Cedric Griffin played well after a couple weeks of riding the bench, adding two tackles and his first interception of the season.

Although the Vikings limited the Bears on offense, their inability to capitalize on opportunities to put points on the board was costly. Add that to their three turnovers, and you’ve got a disappointing 17-13 loss to put the lid of this 2011 season for the Vikings.

It was the last game that the Vikings will play at the Metrodome and possibly in Minnesota. It was the last game that the Vikings will have 13-year veteran tight end Jim Kleinsasser donning the horns. It was the last game that the Vikings had to gain some confidence heading into the offseason and, much like the other 15 previous games, they fell short.

The Vikings will now look towards the future as their offseason gets under way. With numerous holes to fill and a plethora of decisions to make, the Vikings front office will certainly be busy in the upcoming months.

It’s always darkest before the dawn, and the Vikings will be working hard this offseason in hopes that the sun rises a little on their 2012 campaign.

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.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

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Read More: Josh McCown (QB – CHI), Michael Strahan (DE – NYG), Jared Allen (DE – MIN), Charles Tillman (CB – CHI), Chad Greenway (LB – MIN), Jim Kleinsasser (TE – MIN), Ryan Longwell (K – MIN), Kevin Williams (DT – MIN), Lorenzo Booker (RB – MIN), Brian Robison (DE – MIN), Earl Bennett (WR – CHI), Erin Henderson (LB – MIN), Percy Harvin (WR – MIN), D.J. Moore (CB – CHI), Joe Webb (QB – MIN), Toby Gerhart (RB – MIN), Christian Ponder (QB – MIN), Jordan Todman (RB – MIN), Caleb King (RB – MIN), Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM CST

Fans of the Minnesota Vikings had something to cheer about on Sunday afternoon at the Metrodome, but in the end it was more of the same as the home team fell to the Chicago Bears by a score of 17-13.

The Vikings got off to a quick 10-0 lead, thanks to a couple of Chicago turnovers, getting a Ryan Longwell field goal after a fumble by Chicago’s Earl Bennett and a 5-yard Percy Harvin touchdown run after a fumble by running back Khalil Bell. However, that turned around quickly thanks to a 22-yard touchdown pass from Josh McCown to Roy Williams and an interception that Chicago’s Charles Tillman took into the end zone after it bounced off the hands of Toby Gerhart, quickly turning a 10-0 Minnesota lead into a 14-10 deficit.

Early in the second quarter, quarterback Christian Ponder got sacked by Chicago’s Isreal Idonije and needed help to get off of the field, re-aggravating the hip injury he suffered earlier on in the season and bringing Joe Webb in at quarterback. Webb provided a bit of a spark, completing 17-of-32 passes for 200 yards, but could only lead the Vikings to three points in his two-plus quarters of work along with two interceptions, including one to D.J. Moore to ice the game for Chicago.

The Vikings also lost running back Toby Gerhart to a knee injury during the game, and it was revealed afterwards that he suffered a partially torn MCL. That left Lorenzo Booker as the Vikings’ only healthy running back, as the team had both Caleb King and Jordan Todman inactive for this afternoon’s game.

It was the final game for Vikings’ tight end Jim Kleinsasser, who played for the Vikings for the entirety of his 13-year career. After Leslie Frazier stated earlier in the week that the team wanted to get Kleinsasser the ball and work him into the game plan, the burly tight end managed to get neither a carry nor a catch in his final game in purple and gold.

The big story for the Vikings in this one, however, was defensive end Jared Allen. He entered the game with 18.5 sacks, and got on the board early by splitting a sack with Erin Henderson to give him 19. He got McCown again in the second quarter to increase his total to 20, and the excitement at the Metrodome grew every time McNown dropped back to pass.

On the first play of the third quarter, Allen dropped McCown again for his 21st sack of the season, which tied him with Chris Doleman for the single-season record in Vikings’ team history. Allen took the record all for himself late in the third quarter, taking down McCown for another sack to give him 22 for the year, and putting him just one sack away from Michael Strahan’s single-season record of 22.5* set in 2001.

However, in typical Vikings’ fashion, it was not to be. The Bears put a ridiculous number of blockers on Allen for the rest of the afternoon, and he didn’t get another sack of McCown on the afternoon. As a team, the Vikings registered seven sacks on the afternoon, with Chad Greenway, Brian Robison, and Kevin Williams getting in on the act as well.

The loss by the Vikings, along with losses by the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams, cements the Vikings into the third overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, the highest the team has selected since taking Chris Doleman with the fourth overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft.

That’s your season, ladies and gentlemen. The Vikings finish the season 3-13, tied for the worst record in Vikings’ franchise history, with a 17-13 loss to the Chicago Bears. We would like to thank you for making SB Nation Minnesota your home for Minnesota Vikings’ coverage this year, and hope that you will stay around during the off-season as we analyze the Vikings going forward.

Gotta run!.

Read More: Toby Gerhart (RB – MIN), DeMarcus Love (OT – MIN), Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings

With star RB Adrian Peterson out indefinitely after tearing his ACL in a Week 16 loss to the Washington Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings have a huge opening in their backfield in their final game of the regular season. Most of the carries will go to back up Toby Gerhart, but two of the Vikings’ young running backs— who may have been able to be tested today vs. the Chicago Bears— are listed as out for today’s game.

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Last Saturday, against the Washington Redskins, fans watched in horror as Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s knee broke the laws of anatomy. Unfortunately for Peterson and the Vikings, the consequences might be costlier than just missing the last game of the 2011 season.

After undergoing an MRI, it was revealed that Peterson had torn both the ACL and MCL in his left knee, among other damage.

Peterson underwent surgery on Friday to repair the torn ligaments and the procedure was a success.

“We’ve received word that Adrian underwent successful knee surgery with Dr. James Andrews and is now resting comfortable,” the Vikings announced Friday afternoon. “Adrian is in our thoughts, we wish him a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him when he returns to Minnesota.”

Typically, this type of injury would take anywhere from eight to nine months to heal before the knee could begin to undergo any sort of physical exertion. The Vikings, however, have already made it clear that they expect Peterson back and ready to go to kick off the 2012 regular season in September.

Despite all of the optimism radiating from the Vikings’ front office and staff, I still have my doubts that Peterson is going to return as the same running back that carved up NFL defenses for the past five seasons.

Don’t get me wrong; I’d love nothing more than to have Peterson suited up and ready to wreak havoc at the beginning of the 2012 NFL season. He’s the centerpiece of the Vikings’ offense and the prime building block for the future of this franchise. But to be so optimistic about an injury that could hinder Peterson for the rest of his life seems a bit naïve.

To illustrate my point, I call your attention to the Daunte Culpepper fallout of 2005.

Arguably the last quality quarterback the Vikings could call their own, Culpepper was on the verge of carving his own niche in the NFL. He was coming off of a 2004 season that saw him throw for 4,717 yards while setting the since-broken NFL record for total yards in a single-season by a quarterback with 5,123. The Vikings’ former first-round pick was a three-time Pro Bowler in his first six years in the NFL. For Culpepper, everything was falling into place until one fateful day in 2005 against the Carolina Panthers.

During a Vikings’ mid-season matchup with the Panthers, Culpepper had his knee taken out, tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL in the process. I won’t bore you with any numbers, but it’s safe to say that Culpepper was never the same player after rehabbing from the devastating injury. He spent a few more years jumping from team to team in the NFL before finally settling for the UFL, where he still struggles to dominate against much weaker opposition. Prior to the start of the 2011 NFL season, Culpepper made himself available to quarterback-needy NFL teams, and not a single team bit.

Although many will argue that Peterson will be fine considering that he didn’t pull off the tear trifecta a la Culpepper and he’s a different breed of athlete, a knee is a knee. Regardless of the person or their will to persevere, a knee simply isn’t supposed to bend that way and damage like that is usually a life-long limitation.

A big reason as to why Peterson is so great is his ability to cut on a dime and burst through the hole with overwhelming strength. That relentless power and explosiveness that he runs with makes him so dangerous. However, with a knee injury of this magnitude, that explosiveness and burst are gone. No stable knee equals no bowling over defenders with ease. Without strong, healthy knee ligaments, Peterson can’t cut properly and the Vikings’ homerun threat is degraded to a one-dimensional back who is better off watching from the sidelines.

The biggest factor at this point will be how Peterson’s knee responds to the rehabilitation and whether or not the Vikings wait until he’s as ready as can be. The worst thing Peterson could do is play prematurely and cause even more damage to the knee. Especially at a wear-and-tear heavy position like running back, Peterson’s at horrible risk of causing irreparable damage if he plays before the knee is 100 percent healthy.

The Vikings will play Peterson when they feel he is ready, and he’s a smart enough player to not insert himself into the lineup before his knee is properly prepared to take a beating. The main concern, though, is whether or not we’ll ever see the lethal version of No. 28 again.

If there’s any player who can bounce back from an injury of this magnitude and still play at the same level, it’s Peterson. He’s as elite of an athlete as they come, and he’ll be working non-stop offseason to get himself primed for football. Add in the training prowess of Vikings head trainer Eric Sugarman and you’ve got a recipe for success. I reiterate, though: there’s a reason knees don’t bend sideways.

I’m not rooting for him to fail; I’m just trying to prepare you for the reality that All Day may never again play like the All Day so many Vikings fans have come to know and love.

Could this be the beginning of the Toby Gerhart era in Minnesota? Only time will tell.

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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• WHO: Chicago Bears (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (3-12).

• WHEN: Sunday, noon, Fox.

• OPENING LINE: Bears by 1.

• RECORD VS. SPREAD: Chicago 7-8; Minnesota 6-8-1.

• SERIES RECORD: Vikings lead 52-47-2. Last meeting, Bears beat
Vikings 39-10, Oct. 16.

• NFL RANKINGS: Bears’ offense, overall (20), rushing (8), passing
(26); Bears’ defense, overall (18), rushing (6), passing (28);
Vikings’ offense, overall (18), rushing (4), passing (28); Vikings’
defense, overall (25), rushing (12), passing (29).

• FACTS & FIGURES: Bears have won four straight in series,
their longest since six in a row from 1983-86 and longest overall
in this rivalry since Vikings won four straight over 1997 and 1998
seasons. … Bears have only won at Metrodome once since 2002,
19-16 in 2006. These teams didn’t play at site, now known as Mall
of America Field, last season because of roof collapse that forced
game outside to TCF Bank Stadium on University of Minnesota campus.
… Home team has won 16 of last 19 meetings. … Bears averaging
35.5 points in Past four games against Vikings. … In 10 games
against Vikings, WR/KR/PR Devin Hester has nine of his 30 career
TDs, five receiving and four returning. He scored twice in last
meeting. … RB Kahlil Bell, filling in for injured Matt Forte
(sprained right knee), had career-high 121 yards rushing last week.
Vikings have given up 302 yards rushing in Past two games. …
Bears have lost five straight since starting 7-3. … Vikings QB
Christian Ponder expected to play after being knocked out of last
game with concussion; RB Adrian Peterson is having surgery to
repair tears in ACL and MCL in left knee. … Vikings trying to
avoid matching worst finish in their 51-year history, 3-13 in 1984.
… Jared Allen has 18 1/2 sacks, four off NFL single-season record
and 2 1/2 short of team single-season record. … TE Jim
Kleinsasser will play in his last game, ending 13-year career. He
has played in more games than any TE in Vikings history.

- By The AP.

Comment Below!.

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.

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Read More: Visanthe Shiancoe (TE – MIN), Kyle Rudolph (TE – MIN), Allen Reisner (TE – MIN), Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings announced through their official Twitter feed on Wednesday that they have signed tight end Allen Reisner to their practice squad. Reisner was waived from the Vikings’ active roster earlier this week to make room for Minnesota’s other options at the position, but they’ve brought him back to the practice squad as some depth.

Reisner has spent most of the season on Minnesota’s practice squad, but he was with the Vikings for the past few weeks. With Visanthe Shiancoe and Kyle Rudolph dealing with injuries, Minnesota picked up Reisner off the practice squad in late November to give the team some depth. With both of those players getting back into the thick of things, Reisner’s services were no longer needed.

A rookie out of Iowa, the 23-year-old appeared in five games with Minnesota, mostly early in the season. He caught a single pass for five yards against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 27, but hasn’t seen the field since then.

For more on the Chicago Bears, head over to Windy City Gridiron. And stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more Chicago sports updates and breaking news.

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Read More: Lorenzo Booker (RB – MIN), Toby Gerhart (RB – MIN), Jordan Todman (RB – MIN), San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings

With star running back Adrian Peterson out for the season after tearing his ACL last week, the Minnesota Vikings have claimed running back Jordan Todman off of the San Diego Chargers’ practice squad to give them some extra depth at the position. He’s expected to be on the active roster as the Vikings finish off their season against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Todman was San Diego’s 2011 sixth-round pick out of Connecticut. A two-year starter with the Huskies, he was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 after rushing for 1695 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior. Todman hasn’t seen action in the NFL yet, as he’s spent his short professional career on San Diego’s practice squad.

With Peterson out against Chicago, Todman will likely be the third-string running back for the Vikings. Toby Gerhart should get the start for Minnesota while Lorenzo Booker will be the primary back-up. Both Chicago and Minnesota will be missing key players for this week’s game as neither team will be making the playoffs this season.

For more on the Chicago Bears, head over to Windy City Gridiron. And stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more Chicago sports updates and breaking news.

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The late-season roster chances continue to roll in for the Minnesota Vikings.

On Tuesday, the Vikings placed veteran left guard Steve Hutchinson on the Injured Reserve list. Hutchinson, who’s been dealing with a concussion for the past couple of weeks, wasn’t progressing at a quick enough rate to play on Sunday. Instead of allowing a roster spot to go to waste, the Vikings elected to end Hutchinson’s 2011 season early.

Hutchinson is in the final year of his seven-year, $49 million contract that he signed back in 2006. Although he’s still valuable as a seasoned blocker and veteran presence out on the field, his talents continued to dwindle year after year to the point where he might not be worth the asking price. There’s a very good chance that the Vikings won’t bring Hutchinson back at the end of the season.

In the instance that Hutchinson’s days as a Viking are over, it’s likely that Minnesota will move current left tackle Charlie Johnson inside to play guard while setting their sights on a new left tackle either via the draft or free agency. If they stay in their current draft position (No. 3 overall), there’s a definite possibility that USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil could be wearing purple and gold by late April.

Taking Hutchinson’s place on the active roster is rookie running back Jordan Todman. Originally a sixth-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers, Todman excelled during the 2011 preseason but failed to make the 53-man roster once the regular season began. After clearing waivers, the Chargers signed him back to the practice squad with hopes that he would eventually inherit the third-down back role that Darren Sproles deserted. The Vikings, however, lured him away from the Chargers’ practice squad by offering him a spot on their active roster.

With the addition of Todman, the Vikings are preparing for a 2012 season that could potentially start without All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson. After suffering a severe left knee injury last Saturday, there’s some doubt that Peterson will be ready when the 2012 regular season finally arrives. In essence, it’s a move that is focused on the future.

In the meantime, Todman will act as the Vikings’ emergency running back in the case that something happens to both Toby Gerhart and Lorenzo Booker. Fellow rookie running back Caleb King was promoted to the active roster on Monday, but isn’t expected to dress on Sunday when the Vikings host the Chicago Bears.

The Vikings have been stockpiling young talent for the past few weeks and the addition of Todman is no exception.

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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MOORHEAD – Minnesota Vikings fans may have to curb their newfound enthusiasm about news of an agreement for a new stadium.

State Representative Morrie Lanning of Moorhead responded on Monday to reports made by NBC’s Football Night in America contributor Peter King that a stadium deal between the National Football League team and the state was close and no longer a matter of “if” but “when.”

“He (King) did not talk with me, and as far as I know there is nothing new to report,” said Lanning about King’s report that was televised Sunday evening. “My understanding is that he talked with one or two people either from the Vikings or the NFL and put the most positive spin on whatever he heard from those people.”

Lanning, who represents District 9A, also said he could see why people reading King’s report would think there would be something new to report on the stadium issue.

The Minnesota Vikings (3-12) are set to play their final game under its current lease agreement with the Metrodome on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The team has played at the Metrodome since 1982.

The Vikings have said they will not renew their lease with the Metrodome at the end of this season if there is not a deal for a new stadium in place.

Los Angeles land developers have expressed interest in bringing football to the city and there is a belief that the Vikings would be a leading candidate to relocate if the state legislature can’t pass a stadium bill to keep the team in Minnesota.

Lanning said lawmakers are set to meet again this week to continue discussions.

“Later in the week and next week will be a critical time to set forth a proposal,” Lanning said.

Lanning also said the naming of the new Senate majority leader will be a big development in future stadium discussions. He told The Forum it was his understanding the new Senate majority leader could be decided as early as today, but also said it could be delayed if not all members of the Republican caucus are in agreement.

Currently there a several parties working on keeping the Vikings in Minnesota, including the team itself.

There are plans for a stadium to be built in Arden Hills, Minn. – located in Ramsey County – along with possible building sites being discussed in Minneapolis.

The Vikings have played in Minnesota since they entered the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1961.

The key problem surrounding the stadium has been funding.

Minnesota is in a budget crunch and many state legislators have publicly voiced concerns over giving large amounts of state funds for the construction of a stadium.

Lanning, along with State Senator Julie Rosen of Fairmont and Governor Mark Dayton, have been the key figures in the stadium debate.

“We remain hopeful and optimistic of putting a reasonable plan to submit to the legislature,” Lanning said. “We’re just not there yet.”

Readers can reach Forum copy editor

Tom Mix at (701) 451-5750

Tags:
sports, viking, football

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

The athletic abilities of star running back Adrian Peterson led
the Minnesota Vikings to give him a seven-year, $100 million
contract extension before the season started.

Now, they hope his recuperative abilities are just as good and
he is able to live up to being the highest-paid running back in the
NFL.

Minnesota expects Peterson to be recovered from left knee
surgery for two torn ligaments in time to start the 2012
season.

“We expect most people to recover from this injury in eight to
nine months and instead of comparing Adrian to any other player at
any level that’s had an anterior cruciate ligament, and they happen
every day, I would really like Adrian to stand on his own merit
because Adrian, I feel, is very unique,” Vikings head trainer Eric
Sugarman said Monday.

“Adrian has a great work ethic. Adrian has the DNA to heal
quickly, which he has shown in the past. He certainly will have the
desire and the mental toughness to be able to get through the rehab
process, which will take months and months, as you know. So, I
think if anyone can get better quickly and safely in that time
period, it would be Adrian Peterson.”

Peterson tore his ACL and MCL when he was hit in the side of the
knee by Washington Redskins safety DeJon Gomes in the third quarter
of Saturday’s 33-26 win at Washington. An MRI on Saturday evening
revealed the ligament tears and meniscus damage, and Peterson will
undergo surgery within the next seven to 10 days.

Backup Toby Gerhart, who started three games earlier this season
when Peterson was out with a high ankle sprain, will start Sunday
in the season-finale against the Chicago Bears. A second-round pick
in 2010, Gerhart has filled in well for Peterson and notched the
first 100-yard rushing game of his career with 109 yards on 11
carries Saturday. But the Vikings expect Gerhart’s time as the
starter to be short-lived.

“He sets his goals extremely high and he’s one of those guys
who, when he puts his mind to it, there’s no reason to ever doubt
that he can achieve what he sets his mind to,” Minnesota coach
Leslie Frazier said of Peterson. “We’re looking forward to his
attacking this rehab like he’s attacked every offseason, to come
back and play and be even better than he was before. I know with
Eric and our medical staff, they’re going to do everything they can
to get him back on the field and ready to go when we line up in
that first football game next season.”

Gerhart’s emergence over the past month at least offers optimism
if Peterson has to miss extended time next season.

Gerhart has had the top three rushing days of his career in the
past four weeks. On his first carry after Peterson left Saturday’s
game, Gerhart showed some big-play ability of his own, busting free
for a 67-yard run, the longest of his short career.

Believing Peterson will be ready for the first game of 2012 and
knowing Gerhart is available if needed, Frazier said the team
wouldn’t change its run-first offensive approach.

“One of things about Adrian’s absence earlier in the season, we
had a chance to get Toby some extended snaps and we really haven’t
altered the offense by any means,” Frazier said. “Toby has done a
very good job in Adrian’s absence. Did a great job (Saturday) of
stepping in and performing and rushing for over 100 yards. So we
really haven’t had to alter things. We really don’t plan to. We
look forward to eventually getting Adrian back on the field, but we
don’t think we have to really alter the offense.”

That’s all for today.

The “same team, different face” routine continues for the Minnesota Vikings with only one week left until their disastrous 2011 season comes to an end.

A day after discovering that All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson has torn both the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medical collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee, the Vikings have placed their offensive workhorse on the Injured Reserve list.

With such an awful diagnosis comes a dreadful timetable for Peterson’s recovery. The Vikings are optimistic that he will heal ahead of schedule, but it’s unlikely that he will be at full strength once the 2012 regular season gets under way. An injury of this magnitude usually takes anywhere from 8-9 months before the knee can be fully operational.

Peterson is expected to undergo surgery to repair the ligaments within the next 7-10 days.

Taking his place on the active roster as the Vikings’ third option at running back is rookie Caleb King. A former Georgia Bulldog who slipped through the cracks of the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft, King has spent the entire 2011 regular season as part of the Vikings practice squad. With Peterson out, the Vikings needed a fresh set of legs to provide support to Toby Gerhart and Lorenzo Booker for their final game of the season. Considered a huge project at running back, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the Vikings give King an opportunity to prove that he’s NFL-worthy when they take on the Chicago Bears this Sunday.

Also moving up from the practice squad is second-year tight end Mickey Shuler. Signed to the practice squad back in late-November, Shuler was originally a 2010 seventh-round draft pick of the Vikings before he was waived and picked up by the Miami Dolphins. While with the Dolphins last season, he played in six games (two starts) and hauled in two passes for 44 yards.

In order to make room for Shuler on the active roster, the Vikings have waived rookie tight end Allen Reisner. An undrafted rookie out of Iowa, Reisner has played in six games for the Vikings this season and caught one pass for five yards.

With only one game left on the agenda, the Vikings will be looking to give their young, unproven players opportunities to earn themselves a 2012 training camp spot. Look for both of these former practice squad members to have their names called at some point against the Bears.

As for Peterson, all the Vikings can do is hope that he returns next year as the same running back that terrorized the NFL for the past five years. If there’s any player-trainer duo that can get it done, it’s Peterson and Vikings head trainer Eric Sugarman.

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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That’s all the news for today.

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.

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