It shouldn't have happened.
Ever since the great Vikings running back tore his ACL and MCL in Week 16 last December, Peterson vowed to return this year, strong as ever. Medical professionals scoffed when he promised to play in Minnesota's Week 1 game against Jacksonville. And rightfully so.
The typical recovery time for the surgery is close to a year, which at the time put Peterson on track to return to game action sometime this December--perhaps midseason if everything went swimmingly. Yet even then, there was no guarantee that he'd be the same guy--most running backs experience a drastic drop in production the year after major knee surgery. In fact, the extent of Peterson's injury was so great that at the time, some were wondering aloud whether his career would be in jeopardy.
So just the fact that the Vikings were considering using Peterson against the Jaguars on Sunday was, in many ways, a miracle. He was listed as a game-time decision and there were conflicting reports on how active he would be. Some said he would get around five carries and see 10-15 snaps. Others claimed there was no way the Vikings would risk playing him so soon, especially since he didn't see any preseason action. For the first time ever, fantasy football experts universally advised against starting Adrian Peterson.
Turns out, everyone was wrong. Peterson didn't just get his feet wet. He dove right in, registering 17 carries and 84 yards. He scored two touchdowns. He was a key factor on the Vikings' final drive that led to their game-winning overtime field goal.
Adrian Peterson appearing in an NFL game just 8 months after major knee surgery is shocking enough. Adrian Peterson performing at his usual lofty standard, taking the ball 17 times, scoring twice, helping his team win....it's miraculous. An unprecedented medical recovery from what was supposed to be a season-destroying and potentially-career-altering injury. It's really a testament to Peterson's competitive spirit, and to what can be accomplished through total commitment to one's body. And it proves that Peterson is in fact the Iron Man.
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