Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson will miss at least the team's next game after tearing a ligament in his right knee.

Peterson, who set an NFL record with 296 rushing yards in the Vikings' previous game, left yesterday's loss to Green Bay in the third quarter after getting hit in the knee by cornerback Al Harris.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said during a televised news conference today that Peterson tore his lateral collateral ligament and won't require surgery.

``The good news is that the knee otherwise is stable,'' Childress said. ``I'm told that's a good-healing ligament. So if it was a lineman, maybe he's braced up and plays this week.''

Peterson finished with 45 yards on 11 carries in the 34-0 loss, and the injury might hurt his chances to break Eric Dickerson's rookie and all-time records for rushing yards in a season. Peterson has 1,081 through nine games.

Dickerson rushed for a rookie-best 1,808 yards in 1983 and a league-record 2,105 yards the following season.

Dickerson said last week that he didn't want Peterson to break his records and that injuries might be a factor for the Vikings' rookie this season. Peterson had injuries the past two college seasons at the University of Oklahoma, missing all or part of four games with a sprained ankle in 2005 and seven games last season because of a broken collarbone.

Peterson's tendency to get hurt has led online oddsmakers to bet that he won't break Dickerson's record. Online sports books BetUS.com and Bodog.com listed his odds at 2-1 before yesterday's game.

Draft Pick

The seventh pick in this year's draft, Peterson topped 100 rushing yards five times in his first eight games. On Nov. 5 against San Diego, Peterson rushed for 253 of his 296 yards in the second half to set the league's single-game record.

Peterson was hurt yesterday when he was struck in the knee by Harris's helmet after an 11-yard reception. Peterson remained on the ground for several minutes before limping off the field and receiving treatment on the sidelines from the Vikings' medical staff. He said after the game that it was a clean hit.

The Vikings have lost six of their last eight games to fall to 3-6 on the season.

Childress didn't set a timetable for Peterson's return.

``We'll reserve judgment on what's appropriate for that,'' Childress said. ``Everyone heals differently.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net; Aaron Kuriloff in New York at akuriloff@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 12, 2007 16:04 EST