Peterson's knee OK; Harvin expected to return to practice

The running back just has a bruise.

By CHIP SCOGGINS and JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: December 14, 2010 - 10:34 PM

Adrian Peterson suffered a bruised right knee when he collided with quarterbackTarvaris Jackson on a handoff exchange Monday, but the injury is not serious, according to Vikings coach Leslie Frazier.

Peterson and Jackson limped off the field after bumping knees in the first quarter of the Vikings' 21-3 loss to the New York Giants, but both returned the next series. Peterson finished with season-low 26 yards rushing on 14 carries, but Frazier said Peterson's sore knee did not play a significant factor in his performance.

"He had a slight contusion on his knee, but he's going to be fine," Frazier said. "I don't know if that necessarily had a great deal of effect on his play. He ran just as hard as he's ever run. There just wasn't much running room for him. I don't think that knee bump between he and Tarvaris had a great deal to do with the number of yards or carries that he received."

Frazier said the team expects Percy Harvin to return to practice on Thursday while rookie cornerback Chris Cook was placed on season-ending injured reserve because of a knee injury.

Harvin has missed the past two games while dealing with lingering effects from another migraine episode. The wide receiver did not even visit Winter Park several days last week after showing improvement on Monday.

"All indications are that he will be practicing Thursday," Frazier said. "Now it's just a matter of getting through the week to have him ready for Monday night."

Cook had surgery to repair meniscus tears in both knees early this season, and he experienced swelling and pain in his knees in recent weeks. Cook, a second-round draft pick, created a buzz with his strong training camp, but the knee injuries wrecked his rookie season.

"We just felt like for him and for our future it's better to not continue to try to get him back out here," Frazier said. "He needed to rest those knees after two surgeries this season. So we're going to give him a chance to rest and get ready for the 2011 season."

The Vikings promoted offensive tackle Thomas Welch from the practice squad to take Cook's spot on the 53-man roster.

Upon further review

Lorenzo Booker thought he had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in his first game in a Vikings uniform, but it was nullified by an illegal block penalty on Jasper Brinkley. Frazier was asked if he agreed with the call.

"I know Jasper gave great effort, and when you see it, you just wish we had scored on that play," Frazier said. "You wish it had held up. There were a lot of good things on that play, a lot of good things. Just wish it had held up."

Who's next?

With the Vikings running short on quarterbacks in Monday's game, Frazier said wide receiver Greg Camarillo was the designated emergency backup. Brett Favre was inactive, Jackson left the game three times after getting banged up and Joe Webb still was dealing with a hamstring injury.

"You've got to have somebody in there," Frazier said. "Camarillo would have been our guy."

Etc.

• Vikings players will be off Wednesday before resuming practice on Thursday for Monday night's game against the Bears.

• Defensive end Ray Edwards, who has missed the past two games because of a high right ankle sprain, is on the mend, according to Frazier, and the Vikings are hoping to have him back.

• Frazier said left guard Steve Hutchinson's status will be day-to-day, "just to see how he can tolerate the pain he has and the swelling he has as well. We'll see as time goes on." Hutchinson has missed the past two games because of a broken right thumb.