Peterson "relieved"

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson said he was initially afraid that he suffered a serious knee injury, when he went down in the third quarter Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

"I was hoping it was not my ACL, MCL, or anything serious like that," Peterson said. "So I was just praying that it was nothing too bad."

Head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman and team physician Dr. Joel Boyd initially eased his concerns, but Peterson wasn't fully comfortable until he got the results of his MRI this morning.

"I was very relieved," Peterson said. "It could have been a lot worse. So I just thank God that it’s just a knee sprain, and I’ll be back soon."

Peterson said he woke up stiff, but he was thrilled not to see any swelling.

"So that kind of lifted my spirits," he said.

Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman said Peterson was lucky. If Harris came from a slightly different angle, "we’re talking about a very serious injury today."

"So he’s very lucky that this is all he has," Sugarman said, "and he is going to be just fine."

Specifically, Sugarman said Peterson has a bone bruise and a second-degree LCL tear. He pointed out that WR Bobby Wade has a more serious bone bruise that has not sidelined him.

As for the LCL tear, Peterson will have to rest and rehab to mobilize it, especially since he is plants and cuts so much.

"It is not a season-ending injury," Sugarman said. "It just is not."

Sugarman wouldn't provide a timeline -- "Everyone is different," he said -- but Peterson "absolutely has a chance" to play Nov. 25 against the New York Giants.

Sugarman jokingly said his greatest challenge will be to get Peterson to wear a custom-made brace.