Peterson: Star rookie

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Minnesota Vikings have lost the services of sparkling rookie running back Adrian Peterson due to a torn knee ligament.

Peterson has set the NFL alight this season but he was cut down during Sunday's 34-0 demolition at Green Bay after a low hit late in the third quarter.

A helmet to the knee forced him out of the game and an MRI scan has now revealed that he has torn his right lateral collateral ligament.

Vikings coach Brad Childress has revealed that Peterson will be out indefinitely with the ligament injury, with no timescale set for his return.

No surgery will be required on the lateral collateral ligament, which is not as bad as an injury to the interior knee ligaments, but Peterson will definitely miss the match against Oakland Raiders on Sunday for starters.

"The PCL, ACL, meniscus, all the other structures are good in that knee," Childress said.

"I'm told that (the LCL) is a good healing ligament.

"If it was a lineman, they would be braced up and play, maybe. We'll reserve judgment on what's appropriate for that at the time.

"Everybody heals differently."

Rookie Peterson leads the league in rushing yards after charging his way to 1,081 so far with Minnesota, which included an NFL record of 296 yards in their 35-17 success against San Diego Chargers on 4th November.

The seventh overall selection in this year's draft, Peterson also leads the league, alongside LaDainian Tomlinson, in rushing touchdowns after scampering into the endzone eight times.

The Vikings will be desperate to get Peterson back as soon as possible before their slim chances of making the post-season slide away.