The Minnesota Vikings have been saying for hours that the gruesome knee injury suffered by All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson is a sprain, pending further evaluation when the team returns to Minneapolis. However, rumblings are surfacing, courtesy of FOX Sports' Jay Glazer, that the Vikings' worst fears are a reality: Peterson has a torn ACL, it seems.

Anyone who saw the injury and Peterson's reaction — one of sudden and intense pain — was suspicious of the sprain diagnosis, because it just looked too serious not to be something more. If Glazer's sources are to be believed, than a nation of armchair doctors are vindicated.

Obviously, after their victory over the Redskins leaves the Vikings' record at 3-12, this season is not a concern for Vikings fans. The timetable for return from an ACL tear is usually around a year, so if that is indeed the injury, Peterson's status for the beginning of the 2012 season has been cast into doubt.

For reaction and updates on Peterson's injury status, visit Vikings blog Daily Norseman.