Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson breaks off a run against Jacksonville last month.
Bruce Arians said this week he had "no idea" if Adrian Peterson was going to be able to play again this season.
The coach – and the Cardinals – have a pretty good idea now.
After Thursday night reports that the veteran running back would be placed on injured reserve because of the neck injury he suffered against Jacksonville, Arians said Friday Peterson would be going on IR. Since the injury, Peterson, 32, has missed two games and has not practiced.
Friday afternoon, the Cardinals finally put Peterson on IR officially. The spot was needed after the Cardinals claimed cornerback C.J. Goodwin off waivers, following Goodwin's release from the Falcons. Goodwin, 27, played in 26 games for Atlanta in the secondary the past two seasons after transitioning from wide receiver.
Friday morning, Peterson had already confirmed his fate with an Instagram post.
"The good news is my neck injury doesn't require surgery, but I'm told by Dr. Robert Watkins that the best thing for me is just more rest than the length of the season," Peterson wrote. "Obviously I'm disappointed about going on IR when my body is still able to produce, but I look forward to returning completely healthy for another season in 2018. I'm grateful for the opportunity that the Arizona Cardinals have given me to show I can still contribute on an NFL team."
A return to the field was already sounding doubtful. Asked multiple times about
the injury since Peterson got hurt, Arians only said Peterson needed rest and that any return would be up to Peterson's doctors.
Peterson has not spoken locally to the media since the injury, but posted a video of the play last week on Instagram, writing in part "What a blessing. I could've easily broken my neck or seriously injured my neck. No surgery required, just some TLC & Rest!"
Kerwynn Williams has been the starter in Peterson's absence and he was already slated to do that again Sunday in Washington. Since Peterson went down, Williams has gained 170 yards rushing on 36 carries in two games.
Peterson, acquired in a trade with New Orleans in October, played in six games for the Cardinals, rushing for 448 yards and two touchdowns on 129 carries, a 3.5-per carry average. He had a pair of 100-yard games, rushing for 134 yards in his debut against Tampa Bay and 159 – on a career-high 37 carries – at San Francisco. It was the most carries in NFL history for any player at least 30 years old.
His final appearance against the Jaguars, Peterson totaled 79 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Including four games with the Saints, Peterson gained 529 yards on 156 attempts and two touchdowns.
Peterson is under contract through 2018, with compensation next season worth up to $3.5 million with salary, roster bonuses and workout bonuses. The Cardinals also have starter David Johnson coming back next season.
Asked if Peterson could return to the team in 2018, Arians said "no doubt."
"He'll heal fine," Arians said, adding that he thought there could be enough work for both Johnson and Peterson.
"David, he learned his lesson, he doesn't need it every play," Arians said.
But Arians didn't want to get into exactly how he might be able to deploy Johnson and Peterson at the same time.
"I don't even think about next year," Arians said, chuckling. "I have enough problems with Washington this week."
Images from the Week 12 home matchup against Jacksonville

TE Ricky Seals-Jones celebrates a touchdown

LB Chandler Jones

Cardinals cheerleaders perform

TE Ricky Seals-Jones

TE Ricky Seals-Jones

QB Blaine Gabbert

RB Adrian Peterson

LB Chandler Jones

Jaguars QB Blake Bortles

WR Larry Fitzgerald

S Antoine Bethea breaks up a pass intended for Dede Westbrook


Cardinals cheerleaders perform

Cards fans

DL Corey Peters (left) catches up with former Cardinal Calais Campbell

Cardinals cheerleaders perform

Tailgating

Jaguars DL Calais Campbell

Coach Bruce Arians (left) and Jaguars coach Doug Marrone

QB Blaine Gabbert (left) and C A.Q. Shipley before the game

Jaguars DE Calais Campbell (left) and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (right)

Cardinals RB tries to break through

Jaguars S Barry Church intercepts Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert

TE Ricky Seals-Jones after the catch

Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles rushes in for a touchdown

Cardinals S Tyrann Mathieu breaks up a pass

LB Chandler Jones celebrates a tackle for loss

S Budda Baker on the coverage

RB Adrian Peterson on the carry

LB Chandler Jones with the tackle

Corey Grant with the kick return for Jacksonville

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians

T John Wetzel attempts to take down Jaguars DE Calais Campbell as he runs in a recovered fumble

Larry Fitzgerald

Cardinals S Tyrann Mathieu on the tackle

QB Blaine Gabbert unloads in the pocket

Cardinals fans get loud for the home team

LB Chandler Jones busts through to bring down Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette

Phil Dawson with the field goal

Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis with the reception

The Cardinals defense prepares for the snap

Phil Dawson hits the game-winning field goal

RB Adrian Peterson with the carry

K Phil Dawson instructs his teammates to stay off the field with one second left on the clock

Cardinals TE Troy Niklas pulls in the catch

Blaine Gabbert congratulates Phil Dawson after making the field goal

Chandler Jones (right) celebrates a stop with DL Frostee Rucker (left)

RB Adrian Peterson is brought down

Phil Dawson (left) celebrates with Patrick Peterson (right) after hitting the game-winning field goal

Blaine Gabbert tries to escape pressure from Jaguars DE Calais Campbell

Patrick Peterson (right) reacts to Phil Dawson (right) making the game-winning field goal

Larry Fitzgerald (left) and Calais Campbell (right) exchange jerseys after the game

Bruce Arians after the win

Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert (left) and Jaguars QB Blake Bortles (right)