Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl fullback Jerome Felton underwent an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday and could miss the rest of the preseason.
Felton, who played a major role as a lead blocker in running back Adrian Peterson's MVP season and was honored with his first Pro Bowl appearance, was at the team's walk-through Wednesday morning, but missed the afternoon practice. He left the team to undergo surgery and the team later announced he wouldn't travel for Friday's preseason game at Buffalo.
Sources said Felton is expected to return in time for the regular-season opener at Detroit on Sept. 8.
"Thanks for the well wishes everybody, I'll b fine, surgery went great and I'll b out there soon! #SkolVikings," Felton wrote on his Twitter page Wednesday evening.
Earlier, coach Leslie Frazier said defensive tackle Christian Ballard (personal reasons) and cornerback Jacob Lacey (knee surgery) will miss Friday's preseason game. Lacey had arthroscopic surgery this week and is expected to miss two to four weeks. Frazier said he still isn't sure when Ballard might return.
Linebacker Michael Mauti, coming back from anterior cruciate ligament surgery in his left knee, returned to practice Wednesday after missing Tuesday because of a sore knee.
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