Adrian Peterson Played the Last Seven Games With a Sports Hernia

Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) against the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Packers 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Peterson’s 2012 season was an epic achievement in every way. But that achievement seems even more astonishing today with the revelation that Peterson toughed through the final seven games, six regular season games and one playoff game, with a painful sports hernia. Peterson spoke to Josina Anderson about the injury. He said:

"I suffered the injury against Detroit at home, but I didn’t know the extent I was hurt 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. I just remember thinking when I saw my jersey like that, that I must’ve gotten twisted up pretty bad.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. I came out after that play. Each week it just got worse and worse and worse. I kept thinking to myself why is this happening and why now. With everything that I was going through with my knee I just said to myself I am not going to let this bring me down. I just focused on doing my rehab, getting rest and continuing to play."

After that game Peterson was listed on the injury report with an “abdominal strain.” That injury didn’t seem to affect him much on the field until the Houston game when he was forced to leave because of the pain. And how severe was that pain? Peterson called it “10 out of 10.” And this is a guy who totally destroyed his knee. So he knows pain. If he says it was 10 out of 10, it was 10 out of 10.

A lot of guys would’ve had to sit with that injury, but not Peterson. He played it out and almost broke the single-season rushing record. And he went to the Pro Bowl but didn’t do much.

As for long-term prognosis, there are no worries. Peterson has had surgery to repair the situation and will be ready to go when training camp begins.

Like I said, the legend only grows.

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