It’s been speculated all week, but it was made official today. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was declared out for Sunday’s regular season finale against the Chicago Bears.
Peterson, who returned from a torn meniscus Week 15 against Indianapolis, did not practice all week. According to the Vikings’ injury report, he’s dealing with a knee/groin injury.
Is this where it ends?
There is a very real chance that Peterson has played his final game in a Vikings uniform. He has one year remaining on his contract and it’s due to pay him $18 million, but all of that money is non-guaranteed.
As Pro Football Talk notes, it seems unlikely the Vikings will keep him with that kind of a cap number.
That would leave only two scenarios – he takes a pay cut to remain with Minnesota, or the Vikings release him and use the $18 million on other players.
If it is the end of Peterson in Minnesota, it would mean that the Vikings’ all-time leading rusher – 11,747 yards and 97 touchdowns in 10 seasons – will have finished his career with a pedestrian 6 carries for 22 yards and a fumble in his final game in purple.
