EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — With Sunday's dominating 23-6 win at Houston, the Minnesota Vikings have put themselves in position to make the playoffs.
And they should be nearly full-strength for next Sunday's win-and-in playoff game at home against the Green Bay Packers in the regular-season finale.
Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said Monday that running back Adrian Peterson, who is 102 yards away from 2,000 rushing yards for the season and 208 away from breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record, is "sore" with an abdominal injury but likely will be ready for Sunday's game. Frazier said 14-year veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield suffered a small fracture in his hand in Sunday's game but also is expected to be ready for Sunday's pivotal game against Green Bay.
Peterson has been listed on the team's injury report with abdominal and groin issues, and he was dealing with a bit of pain late in Sunday's win against Houston that helped put the Vikings in position to control their playoff destiny.
"We'll have to see how he does this week, how much work that we'll give him as we get ready for this ballgame, which will be a huge ballgame for our team," Frazier said.
Winfield played through his hand injury on Sunday, giving Frazier hope the team's veteran leader will be able to play Sunday. Frazier said he'd likely be ready and will play with a soft cast to protect the injury.
"We don't expect it to be a problem in this ballgame," Frazier said. "He'll have it wrapped up, but he'll be able to play, just like he finished the game yesterday."
Frazier wasn't ready to commit to defensive end Brian Robison returning from his shoulder injury, but he's hopeful after Robison returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday. Robison tested an AC sprain in his right shoulder in that practice, but he was still in pain and was deactivated for Sunday's win.
Frazier said the team has to feel Robison can protect himself.
"We're hoping to get Brian Robison back," Frazier said. "We'll have to take it day to day with him, just to see what he's able to do when he gets back to practice on Wednesday."
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