Resurrecting the Purple Jesus

Gonzo from DailyNorseman.com thinks that the Vikings should put Adrian Peterson on IR and shut him down for the rest of the season. I have to respectfully disagree. Now, I'm in no way arguing that the Vikings should rush him back onto the field, or give him forty carries in his first game back. In fact, I think it is imperative that the Vikings bring Peterson back slowly. They should not, however, shut him down.

First off, it appears that his injury is relatively minor. The Vikings think he could be back by the Giants game. That seems to be rushing it to me (Peterson shouldn't play until he's cleared for an entire week of practice), but the fact that he might be able to play after one week off implies it's not a major injury.

Secondly, it is important for him to play in games this season if he is healthy. It's not easy to return to form after sitting out because of an injury. As we've seen many times, it takes time for an athlete to learn to trust their body again. For example, after blowing out a knee, running backs don't usually return to their preinjury form until the season after their return. If Peterson is healthy this year, it will be better for his performance next year if he can learn to trust his knee again, something he'll need to play to do.

Personally, I think it'd be best if they gave him at least one more week off prior to his return. Assuming there are no complications or setbacks and the Vikings (and Dr. James Andrews) aren't underestimating the timetable Peterson would return for the Detroit game, rather then the Giants game. This would give him two full weeks to heal and give him a full week of practice prior to his return. It would also mean that on the third game, he rose again. Awfully poetic, don't you think?