Hartman: Gerhart produces when he gets a chance

Toby Gerhart was surprised when he got drafted 51st overall in the second round of the 2010 draft by the Vikings, but the former Stanford running back has developed into one of the most important Vikings players as Adrian Peterson's backup. It would be a big blow to the team if, as expected, he signs as a free agent with another club after this season.

Gerhart recently said he doesn't know what his future will hold with the Vikings.

"We'll see what happens, I have no idea," he said. "Who knows if another team wants me or if the Vikings still want me? I'll focus on this year, and when it's done, I'll figure out what's best for me and my family.

"I've enjoyed my time here. Adrian and I have a good relationship, and who knows what happens? I've enjoyed my four years here, and maybe they'll sign me to back up Adrian for the rest of his career, who knows?"

Coming into the Vikings' Week 11 matchup at Seattle, Gerhart had only posted six games with more than 65 yards rushing in his four-year career (and all in his first two seasons), but he has now eclipsed that mark in three of the past four games with Peterson limited because of various injuries.

Against Seattle he carried the ball seven times for 67 yards. The next week against Green Bay he had eight rushes for 91 yards, averaging 11.4 yards per carry. He only received two carries in the Vikings' overtime win over the Bears, but last week, with Peterson leaving the Ravens game early in the second quarter because of a mid-foot sprain, Gerhart had 15 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown that came on a season-best 41-yard carry.

That's a drastic difference from last season, in which Peterson rushed for a near-record 2,097 yards, when Gerhart's highest rushing total was 41 yards on six carries in a 30-7 victory over Tennessee.

"I know my role here is to back him up and to spell him on third downs," Gerhart said. "I try to make the most of my chances when I get them."

Gerhart was used fairly often in 2011 — even before Peterson's Christmas Eve severe knee injury against the Redskins — posting a career-high 109 carries for 531 yards, including three games with more than 90 yards rushing.

In his rookie season of 2010, Gerhart rushed 81 times for 322 yards and one touchdown and had two games with over 75 yards rushing.

This season Gerhart already has eclipsed his yardage total from 2012, when he had 169 yards on 50 carries. This year his 283 yards have come on only 36 carries and his 7.9 yards per rush would be over 2 yards better than anyone in the NFL if he had enough carries to qualify for the league rushing leaders.

Gerhart, who missed practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury, will most likely get a chance to start only his seventh regular-season game Sunday against the Eagles if he's healthy and Peterson's mid-foot sprain keeps him sidelined.

"I've learned how to be a professional," he said. "[Peterson] works hard, the way he pushes himself in the offseason, his conditioning, stuff like that. The things he does on the field are truly special, so I've learned a lot."

Vikings linebacker Audie Cole had the chance to play with Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson when the two were at North Carolina State, before Wilson transferred to Wisconsin.

"He completed academics early and was able to transfer," Cole said. "It's just one of those NCAA rules, so he went [to Wisconsin] and went to the Rose Bowl."

What was his impression of Wilson?

"He was great," said Cole, who is not surprised at Wilson's success in the NFL. "I mean, he does exactly what you see him do still. Very elusive, scrambles around the pocket looking to make the throw, really good at getting the first down when needed."

"I don't think there was ever a person that had a concern with Russell's height at our school because we all knew what kind of player he was," Cole said. "He's an excellent player and he makes plays and he gets stuff done. He's a great leader on top of that."

• The recent appointment of Lou Nanne as the lead fundraiser for the Gophers athletic department was a stroke of genius. Nobody knows more Gophers fans, and the man doesn't have an enemy in the world. On top of that, his past experience as general manager of the North Stars will come in handy when talking finances with potential donors.

• While some people were optimistic the Vikings would have another good season after going 10-6 in 2012, the line in May by Las Vegas bookmakers had the Vikings favored to win only five games this year.

• Twins General Manager Terry Ryan on former Twin and rumored free-agent target Matt Garza: "He is still out there and we've certainly had contact not only with Matt but a lot of pitchers. Any pitcher that is out there that has any ability at all, we certainly approached and talked with and addressed and so forth. Whether or not we [sign] any more is going to be something that we decide on in the near future, we hope."

• The Timberwolves-Spurs game in Mexico City that was postponed Dec. 4 because of smoke from a generator fire outside the arena will be played April 8 at Target Center.

• Gophers football players who will not play against Syracuse in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27 include players who are recovering from surgery such as center Jon Christenson (leg), cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun (knee), wide receiver Derrick Engel (knee) and quarterback Chris Streveler (hand), who wouldn't play even if he was healthy because he is being redshirted. Boddy-Calhoun, who missed most of the season, is likely to not lose a year of eligibility and should have two more years remaining.