MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson might have suffered a major knee injury last week, but he managed to share a laugh with fans after his surgery.
Peterson posted a photo on his Twitter account (@AdrianPeterson) of him lying in his hospital bed wearing a New Year's hat and holding a noisemaker and pint of ice cream. He tweeted: "My time bringing in the New Year was great! Thanks to family & a lil Blue Bell country ice cream."
Peterson tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee on Dec. 24 in the Vikings' 33-26 win against the Washington Redskins. He was injured during a tackle by Redskins safety DeJon Gomes early in the second half.
The Vikings said Peterson's surgery to repair the ligaments was successful, but it remains to be seen how it will affect Peterson's career.
An aggressive runner, Peterson finished the 2011 season — his fifth year in the league — with 970 rushing yards. He was limited to 12 games in 2011 because of multiple injuries.
Earlier this year, he signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension. That came on the heels of his first four years in the league, when he averaged 1,446 yards per season. He led the NFL in rushing in 2008 with 1,760 yards.
