Vikings running back Adrian Peterson missed Week 15 because of groin and foot injuries and then took to the bench after the first half of Week 16 because there was no point in risking further injury with the Bengals running away with the game.
Coach Leslie Frazier said that sitting Peterson for the finale was something the team was considering and Peterson did not practice with the team on Tuesday. He told reporters on a conference call that he was going to push to play in the final game the Vikings will play at the Metrodome.
“I am feeling all right, not as healthy as I would like. I am going to push to try and get out there this week,” Peterson said, via the Pioneer Press. “There’s not much to play for but pride and each other. That’s what we are playing for. ... It’s the last game in the Metrodome, so we definitely want to close it out the right way.”
Toby Gerhart is likely out this week because of a hamstring injury, which could leave Joe Banyard to do a fair amount of work in the backfield against the Lions. The Vikings return to practice on Thursday, which is when we’ll get an update on Peterson’s status as well.