Vikings expect injured Adrian Peterson to be ready for 2012 season

The Minnesota Vikings expect star running back Adrian Peterson to be recovered from left knee surgery for two torn ligaments in time to start the 2012 season.

Peterson tore his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament when he was hit in the side of the knee by Washington Redskins safety DeJon Gomes in the third quarter Saturday in a 33-26 win at Washington. An MRI exam on Saturday evening revealed the ligament tears and meniscus damage. Peterson will undergo surgery within the next seven to 10 days, according to Minnesota head trainer Eric Sugarman.

Sugarman outlined an eight-to-nine-month recovery for Peterson, who was signed to a seven-year, $100-million contract extension before the first week of the season.

“We expect most people to recover from this injury in eight to nine months and instead of comparing Adrian to any other player at any level that’s had an anterior cruciate ligament, and they happen every day, I would really like Adrian to stand on his own merit because Adrian, I feel, is very unique,” Sugarman said.

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All the negative tests on quarterback Tony Romo’s bruised throwing hand are positives for the Dallas Cowboys.

Coach Jason Garrett said Monday that the swelling is going down and that a number of different tests have confirmed the original diagnosis of nothing being broken in Romo’s right hand. The Cowboys are hopeful that he can practice Wednesday.

All indications are that Romo will be ready for the game Sunday night against the Giants in New York that will determine who wins the NFC East and goes to the playoffs.

Romo banged his hand Saturday on the helmet of a Philadelphia defender in the opening series.

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Aaron Kampman is on crutches again after having surgery on his right knee for the second time in two years.

Kampman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in practice on Nov. 11, 2010. His recovery was slower than expected, and he only played in three games this season before going on injured reserve for the third consecutive year.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Legedu Naanee broke a small bone in his right foot Saturday against Tampa Bay and won’t play Sunday in the season finale.

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Chicago Bears Coach Lovie Smith said quarterback Jay Cutler would have pins removed from his surgically repaired right thumb on Tuesday. Cutler has not played since a win over the San Diego Chargers on Nov. 20, when he broke his thumb trying to help make a tackle following a late interception.

Etc.

Texas Rangers catcher Yorvit Torrealba was suspended from Venezuela’s professional baseball league for 66 games for striking an umpire.

Torrealba was arguing with the home-plate umpire Friday after striking out. He angrily put a hand on the umpire’s mask and shoved him. He was then ejected.

League President Jose Grasso Vecchio called Torrealba’s behavior unacceptable and a violation of league rules.

Torrealba plays for the Caracas Lions when not playing in the majors. His agent, Melvin Roman, said Torrealba acknowledged he got carried away in the heat of the moment.

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The Chicago Cubs agreed to one-year contracts with right-handers Andy Sonnanstine and Manny Corpas.

Sonnanstine, who turns 29 in March, was 28-31 with a 5.26 earned-run average in five seasons with Tampa Bay. The 29-year-old Corpas spent five seasons with Colorado but did not pitch in the majors last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow in September 2010.

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Westlake Village Oak Christian cornerback Ishmael Adams said he would play at UCLA next season. Adams, who is 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds, is ranked 10th nationally at his position by Scout.com and 12th by Rivals.com. He visited Notre Dame, Arizona State and California before committing to UCLA.

--Chris Foster