The uncanny ACL recovery by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who suffered the injury on Christmas Eve and launched his league MVP season less than nine months later, has skewed fan expectations for others who suffer the same injury.
For Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, who tore an ACL in October, Peterson’s recovery has become an objective to achieve.
“I just want to come back and be the same player, if not better,” Cushing told CSNHouston on Saturday night. “I think a lot of guys see guys get hurt with ACL and don’t know what to expect. You look at guys like [Chiefs running back] Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, came back and had better years than probably they’ve ever had before. That’s the bar they’ve set and that’s the same bar I want to reach.”
Cushing, who is working out five days per week, said that he is now jogging. The next step will be full-speed running.
He has more than six months before the season starts, and he’s five months removed from the injury. For now, then, the belief is that Cushing will be ready to go when the Texans suit up in September.