Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell dismissed any concerns yesterday about Adrian Peterson’s famous collarbone. The Vikings’ rookie running back, who leads the NFL in rushing after five games, broke his collarbone at Oklahoma last season, missed several games and then re-injured it in the Fiesta Bowl.
Bevell was asked if Peterson or the Vikings have followed a special preventive plan for Peterson who also had shoulder and ankle injuries in college. “I don’t think we’ve approached it in any different way,” Bevell said. “I think his conditioning is outstanding. He runs a 73-yard run and he goes sitting on the bench and he’s not even breathing heavy. …You ask him after the game, how do you feel? He says, ‘I feel great.’ He’s still got that young body. He’s playing hard. I don’t think he has any worries about the collarbone. I don’t think we do. … He’s running angry and running behind his pads.”
Speculation is that Peterson’s upright running style could lead to injuries but Bevell sees plays when the former Sooner is protecting himself and generating extra punch by lowering his shoulder pads. “I think it’s something that we’ve talked to him about and coach (Eric) Bieniemy does a great job with him, preparing him each week,” Bevell said. “I don’t necessarily believe that it’s been a problem to this point. He runs so hard but there are times that you can see him run behind his pads, drop his pads down and he just has to continue to do it. I think it’s something to know when to do it. … Still, it’s a decision he has to make but I’ve definitely seen him lower his pads and run behind them.”
Peterson was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game last Sunday against Chicago. He broke a Viking rushing record with his 224 yards. That is the fifth best single game rushing performance by a rookie in NFL history.
Peterson said he’s become more patient running than earlier in the season and offered that as an example of how he’s improved. He was also asked about six other NFL teams passing him by in the college draft before the Vikings selected him as the No. 7 pick. “I really don’t think about that, but they probably do,” he said.