Brad Childress said at his news conference this afternoon that the latest MRI exam on running back Adrian Peterson’s injured knee showed “excellent healing,” and the Vikings coach indicated his rookie running back will play on Sunday against Detroit at the Metrodome. Childress talked about easing Peterson back into game action, a day after Chester Taylor ran for 77 yards in the team’s 41-17 win over the New York Giants.
Antoine Winfield missed yesterday’s game with a hamstring injury. Childress said that he’ll “see how it goes” this week in regard to the cornerback’s possible return for the Detroit game.
Childress was pleased that his team was able to win yesterday without two of its best players because it demonstrates others can contribute, too. Peterson, despite missing the last two games, still leads the NFL in rushing. Winfield is considered one of the NFL’s better cornerbacks and surest tacklers. “That’s the nature of this game,” Childress said. “The next guy steps up.”
The Vikings have won three of their last four games, including two straight, to move their record to 5-6. The Lions are 6-5 and just ahead of the Vikings in the NFC North standings. The Vikings improvement has stirred playoff talk with Minnesota joining the possible post-season list with Detroit and other teams in the NFC. Childress, though, isn’t making the playoffs part of his conversation with the team.
“We ignore it (the topic),” he said. “We will pay all (our) attention to the Detroit Lions. …”
Asked about the disappointing 34-0 loss at Green Bay on November 11, Childress said “I look at disgust as being a great motivator.” Since then the Vikings have beaten Oakland 29-22 and also the Giants, while Detroit has lost three straight.