Minneapolis, MN

The Minnesota Vikings have announced that running back and 2012 NFL Most Valuable Player Adrian Peterson underwent operation Thursday to repair a sports hernia that hounded him since Week 11.

The team said Peterson is expected to have "a speedy recovery" and that no long-term issues are imminent.

Peterson has been told he'll be able to work out again in three to four weeks, according to ESPN.

Peterson told ESPN that he suffered the injury in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions but he didn't know the extent then.

"I just remember getting twisted up pretty bad in an awkward position. My jersey never moves like that. I don't know if it was from a tackle or from me pulling away from someone," Peterson said.

"That next day I felt very uncomfortable in my groin and abdominal area. I thought to myself I'll just wait until I recover but I never did," he added.

The Vikings began listing Peterson on their injury report with an "abdomen" injury before their Week 15 game against the St. Louis Rams. He ran for 212 yards in that game.

Peterson said the injury worsened each week and limited his participation in practice for the remainder of the season.

The tailback said he didn't receive any treatment for his pain until the Week 13 game against the Green Bay Packers, when he received a cortisone shot in the pelvic area.

Peterson said the injury affected his attempt to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing yards record but said he wouldn't use it as an excuse to cover up his failure.

"I don't want to make it seem like the sports hernia made me miss it, I could have done it with the injury. All I can say is that I would have had better performances," said Peterson, who finished the season with 2,097 yards, the second most in NFL history.

Despite the injury, Peterson also participated in the Pro Bowl.

 

 

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