Vikings running back Adrian Peterson left Sunday night’s game against the Packers in the third quarter with a back injury.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson left Sunday night’s game against the Packers in the third quarter with a lower back injury, the team announced. He returned late in the fourth quarter, however, as Minnesota attempted to run out the clock.

Peterson was taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

Peterson will finish this season as the NFL’s leading rusher for the third time in his career. He entered Sunday’s game with 1,418 yards on 308 carries, while Buccaneers running back Doug Martin finished with 1,402 yards after his game on Sunday.

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Jerick McKinnon is Peterson’s backup and has 48 carries for 256 yards this season. Third-stringer Matt Asiata has 112 yards on 29 carries.

- Dan Gartland