In what has to rank as one of the newsiest press briefings in recent memory, the Vikings announced Wednesday that A) Adrian Peterson is having surgery Thursday, B) Matt Kalil is going on IR with a hip injury and C) the team has signed running back Ronnie Hillman.
One item of interest: Hillman has eight career fumbles (three lost) in 520 career touches from scrimmage (receptions or carries). If that doesn't sound like a lot, consider that Peterson has 38 fumbles in 2,652 career touches from scrimmage. That's one per every 70 touches for Peterson — who has carried the label of having a fumbling problem at various points in his career. Hillman's rate is one per 65 touches — even higher than Peterson's.
On the bright side for the Vikings, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata — two established backs already on the team — have just two career fumbles in 538 combined touches.
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. michael.rand@startribune.com.
