Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata (44) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
For the better part of a decade, the Minnesota Vikings haven't had to worry much about their running game.
Running back Adrian Peterson has averaged 4.86 yards per carry since joining the Vikings in 2007, second only to Kansas City Chiefs runner Jamaal Charles over that span.
With Peterson sidelined the Vikings have relied on grinder Matt Asiata in short yardage, sprinkling in Jerick McKinnon as a third-down back, with newcomer Ronnie Hillman earning a handful of carries here and there.
It isn't working.
The Vikings are averaging a league-worst 2.7 yards per carry heading into a matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, and things didn't improve last week.
They ran the ball just 21 times against the Washington Redskins, making it tough to get a read on their running back situation.
However, Asiata's status as the starter appears to be unchanged.
He ran for just 13 yards on nine carries, while Hillman, expected to shoulder a bigger load with the running game floundering, had just four carries.
GAME 9: REDSKINS (OFFENSE)
| PLAYER | PLAYS (67) | % |
| Berger | 67 | 100% |
| Clemmings | 67 | 100% |
| Fusco | 67 | 100% |
| Boone | 67 | 100% |
| Bradford | 67 | 100% |
| Long | 66 | 99% |
| Rudolph | 57 | 85% |
| Thielen | 57 | 85% |
| Diggs | 51 | 76% |
| Patterson | 44 | 66% |
| McKinnon | 32 | 48% |
| Asiata | 23 | 34% |
| Ellison | 17 | 25% |
| Johnson | 13 | 19% |
| Hillman | 13 | 19% |
| Line | 11 | 16% |
| Easton | 10 | 15% |
| Sirles | 4 | 6% |
| Wright | 4 | 6% |
GAME 9: REDSKINS (DEFENSE)
| PLAYER | PLAYS (63) | % |
| Smith | 63 | 100% |
| Sendejo | 63 | 100% |
| Barr | 62 | 98% |
| Waynes | 59 | 94% |
| Greenway | 58 | 92% |
| Robison | 54 | 86% |
| Newman | 51 | 81% |
| Griffen | 50 | 81% |
| Rhodes | 50 | 79% |
| Joseph | 47 | 79% |
| Stephen | 38 | 75% |
| Hunter | 33 | 60% |
| Johnson | 30 | 48% |
| Alexander | 14 | 22% |
| Kendricks | 11 | 17% |
| Cole | 9 | 14% |
| Lamur | 1 | 2% |
-- Offensive tackle Jake Long is lost for the season with an Achilles injury. The notoriously frail left tackle went down with just 11 seconds remaining in the game. The Vikings then turned to Jeremiah Sirles, who allowed a game-ending sack on fourth and 17.
-- Rookie receiver Laquon Treadwell was a surprise inactive after suffering a hamstring injury in practice Thursday. He logged his first NFL catch last week on a 15-yard pass from Sam Bradford.
-- Although they approached equal playing time against the Bears, Sunday's game was the first time this season that receiver Adam Thielen has out-snapped Stefon Diggs.
-- Xavier Rhodes remains in the league's concussion protocol after leaving in the second half. Trae Waynes led all Vikings cornerbacks with 59 snaps.
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