Vikings place Patrick Peterson on injured reserve

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When cornerback Patrick Peterson was injured on the Minnesota Vikings’ final defensive series of Sunday’s overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers, the team had designated him as questionable to return with what they diagnosed as cramps. As it turns out, Peterson likely wasn’t going to return if the Vikings had to play defense again. . .because we’re not going to see #7 again for a few more weeks.

On Monday, the Vikings placed their top cornerback on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, meaning that he will miss the team’s next three games at a minimum. Per NFL rules, it’s three games, not three weeks, so the team’s upcoming bye week does not count.

Peterson was a bit of a surprise signing by the Vikings this offseason, inking a one-year, $10 million deal with the purple very early on in free agency. With a group of young cornerbacks on the roster, the Vikings needed someone to provide a steadying veteran presence, and Peterson has provided that throughout the course of this season.

The trip to injured reserve means that Peterson will miss the Vikings’ games against the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Chargers. Not a string of offenses that you want to be missing your top corner against, but that’s the situation that the Vikings find themselves in.

Here’s hoping that Peterson’s injury is one that can be treated and taken care of over the course of the next four weeks and allow him to get back on the field as soon as possible.