Minnesota Vikings' running back Adrian Peterson is on track to return to the field this week, just in time for a pivotal NFC North game against Detroit. Peterson tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee three weeks ago against Green Bay. He missed the last two victories over Oakland and the Giants, but the star rookie had an MRI on Monday that "shows excellent healing," Coach Brad Childress said. As long as everything goes as planned this week in practice, Childress said he would ease Peterson back into the fold against the Lions, splitting carries with veteran Chester Taylor. Despite missing the past two games, Peterson still leads the NFL with 1,081 yards rushing and is second to Brian Westbrook with 1,301 yards from scrimmage.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants. It is the second straight game the dynamic rookie will miss since suffering a knee injury on November 11.

Outstanding Vikings' rookie running back Adrian Peterson was upgraded to questionable Friday, increasing his chances of playing against the New York Giants on Sunday. Peterson tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee two weeks ago against Green Bay, but Coach Brad Childress said he thought the NFL's leading rusher was progressing ahead of schedule this week in practice. "He's getting there," Childress said. One week after setting the single-game NFL record with 296 yards rushing against San Diego, Peterson was injured when Packers' cornerback Al Harris went low to bring him down in the third quarter of a 34-0 loss to Green Bay.

The Vikings could be without cornerback Antoine Winfield for the third time in four games Sunday when they play the New York Giants. The veteran sat out a second consecutive day of practice Thursday because of a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the second half of the Vikings' victory over Oakland last weekend. Winfield originally was injured Oct. 28 against Philadelphia and missed the next two games. He tried to return against the Raiders but was shut down after the first two quarters. Coach Brad Childress said Monday that Winfield had not suffered a setback, but it's clear the injury isn't progressing as well as had been hoped. Winfield's projected status for the Giants' game will be made official Friday when the Vikings issue an injury report following practice. If Winfield can't go, rookie Marcus McCauley would be in line to start at left corner for a pass defense that ranks last in the NFL.

Adrian Peterson was on the field for the first part of Minnesota's practice on Wednesday participating in light individual drills with his teammates. After working out without pain in his injured right knee the past two days, Peterson took the next step in his recovery from a partially torn lateral collateral ligament. Coach Brad Childress said he considered Peterson upgraded from the "long shot" status he assigned the NFL's leading rusher earlier in the week regarding his readiness to play against the New York Giants. Still, the rookie must have another MRI test before he can be cleared and is unlikely to be in uniform on Sunday. "I don't put any restrictions on him. Nothing surprises me with what that kid does," Childress said. He added, "I am always on the pessimistic side, but I acquiesce to the medical side -- and that is the next step."

According to people with knowledge of Adrian Peterson's injury, the injury occurred in the best possible scenario. Usually when a player tears his lateral collateral ligament (LCL), two other ligaments ? often the ACL ? and sometimes two tendons tear as well. There are four corners that go along with an LCL ? the so-called posterior-lateral-corner ? that also usually tear in an injury like this. Luckily for Peterson and what makes his injury a bit different is that none of the tendons and ligaments in the four corners tore. Had they been torn as well, Peterson would have a much bleaker outlook. Vikings' trainer Eric Sugarman said Peterson is unlike most players he's been around. In fact, he compares his tolerance and drive to get back on the field to the drive shown by receiver Terrell Owens. Sugarman was one of the Eagles' trainers when Owens made an impossible comeback from an ankle and foot injury to play in the Super Bowl a few years ago. "I had never seen anything like Terrell until Adrian came along," said Sugarman. "They have the same drive. Every single thing we've asked him to do, and trust me, I've pushed and pushed, he's had no pain. I've given him things to see where he is that I thought he'd certainly struggle with, and he hasn't struggled with anything. He's really an unbelievable kid."

The Minnesota Vikings will probably be without star running back Adrian Peterson for at least another week. Peterson was sent to work out in a swimming pool Monday for continued work on his injured right knee, but Coach Brad Childress said he didn't expect Peterson to be ready for the next game against the New York Giants. "It's hard to say right now. He hasn't been on hard land yet," Childress said. Peterson, who still leads the league by a wide margin with 1,081 yards rushing, was hurt in the third quarter of the Nov. 11 game against Green Bay on a tackle by Packers' cornerback Al Harris that caused his lateral collateral ligament to tear. The LCL is the least critical of the four knee ligaments. Peterson has spent "literally, six to eight hours a day" in the training room since then, Childress said. He'll have to spend at least some time in practice before being cleared for action in a game, so it's likely he won't return until some time in December. "I'd say it's a long shot right now to get back there, but we'll see," said Childress, who added that Peterson had surprised him before. Childress noted that Peterson has begun to get used to wearing a brace on his knee.

Adrian Peterson watched from the sideline in a sweat suit perhaps seeing a little bit of himself in Chester Taylor's clutch performance. Taylor had 202 total yards and three touchdowns, sending the Vikings past former teammate Daunte Culpepper and the Oakland Raiders 29-22 on Sunday. Peterson was out with a minor knee injury, so Taylor did his best impression. He rushed 22 times for 164 yards, and Minnesota (4-6) pressured Culpepper into a costly turnover and four sacks. The Vikings turned the ball over four times in the first half, and Sebastian Janikowski followed their fumbles with three of his five field goals. He couldn't prevent Oakland (2-8) from losing its sixth straight game.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota's record-setting rookie running back, has given his jersey to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He donated the purple No. 28 jersey and white pants he wore earlier this month while rushing for an NFL-record 296 yards for the Vikings in a victory over the San Diego Chargers. The uniform has been guarded by the team's equipment staff since the game on Nov. 4. When Peterson said it was never washed, Joe Horrigan, a representative from the Hall of Fame, feigned disgust as he held the jersey next to him. Horrigan was headed back to Canton, Ohio, where the shrine to Peterson's accomplishment was scheduled to be on display starting Friday. "The magnitude of what Adrian did on that day is really amazing, and you think about the fact that he is a young rookie and what that must mean for the future," Horrigan said.

Dr. James Andrews, the world?s foremost authority on sports injuries, said today in a statement provided to the Vikings that RB Adrian Peterson?s right knee injury should be evaluated on a ?week-to-week basis.? Andrews? evaluation jibes with the Vikings? original position that Peterson will recover in time to play again this season. The full text of the statement, which is addressed to the Vikings: ?I have reviewed Adrian?s MRI and agree with your assessment and diagnosis. I agree that you are taking the correct approach. He has an isolated injury to his lateral collateral ligament. He should be re-evaluated on a week-to-week basis and be allowed to progress as his symptoms allow.?