John Shinn
• Running back says he looks forward to return
Many have speculated on whether Adrian Peterson has played his last game at Oklahoma. The junior running back doesn’t think so.
“I’m looking forward to playing,” he said Wednesday. “I don’t know how soon it will be when I recover, but I’m looking forward to playing. So don’t be surprised.”
Peterson made his first public comments since breaking his collarbone in the fourth quarter of the Sooners’ 34-9 victory over Iowa State last Saturday. He suffered the injury on a 53-yard touchdown run to cap a 183-yard rushing performance.
After the game, OU coach Bob Stoops announced the injury would keep the All-American running back out for the rest of the regular season.
But Peterson offered a time frame that could put him back on the field sooner.
“They say 4-6 weeks,” he said. “It just depends on how things heal. I’ve just got to sit back and just take my time and let it heal correctly.”
The 20th-ranked Sooners host Colorado at 6 p.m. Saturday.
They will definitely be without his services against the Buffaloes. Peterson will also miss the Oct. 28 game at Missouri, Nov. 4 game at Texas A&M; and Nov. 11 home finale against Texas Tech.
But if Peterson makes it back in four weeks, he could conceivably play in Oklahoma’s final two regular-season games, at Baylor Nov. 18 and at Oklahoma State Nov. 25.
Head athletics trainer Scott Anderson said it’s too early to speculate on a time table.
“(The recovery) course is expected to take six weeks,” he said. “We will, of course, have assessments during this period of time as we go through and manage and track his recovery.”
The injury dampened what was supposed to be a big day for Peterson and his family.
His father attended the game and was watching him play for the first time in person since Peterson was 12 years old. Nelson Peterson had spent about eight years in federal prison for money laundering.
Peterson also said his mother, Bonita Jackson, broke her ankle while playing basketball with family members Saturday.
“Yeah, it was crazy,” Peterson said. “I told her this is a day we won’t forget … It was a crazy weekend.”
Peterson did not answer questions pertaining to his future beyond this season. He will be eligible for the 2007 NFL draft and most believe he will be a high first-round draft pick if he makes himself eligible.
OU coach Bob Stoops doesn’t see how Peterson returning to play this season could jeopardize that.
“This isn’t something that I know of a case that’s ever been lasting,” he said. “They (collarbones) always heal fine, so it isn’t like something that could be chronic or an issue.”
Nelson Peterson said his son wants to play again.
“He’s committed to the university, he’s committed to the coaching staff and he’s also committed to his teammates,” he said. “He wants to help them and play.”
Peterson’s performance last Saturday moved him into fourth place on the Sooners’ all-time rushing list.
He only needs 150 yards to match 1978 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims’ total of 4,118 yards.
But the record isn’t something he’s thought much about. He didn’t know how close he was to the mark until after the game.
His biggest concern is healing up and figuring out a way to get some rest. He has to sleep sitting up right now.
“I’m just sitting in a bed against the wall trying to sit up,” he said. “I’ve got a little recliner I sit on, but it’s not that comfortable so I try and get in that bed so at least my lower body can be comfortable somewhat.”
