The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... McKinnon, who will likely be the Vikings’ starting running back if Adrian Peterson doesn’t return to the team, is recovering from back surgery. McKinnon said that he tried to play through his back injury late in the season, but it just got too bad to manage. He needed surgery and is expecting to be good to go for 2015.

Diehards Line:As PFT's Michael David Smith notes, McKinnon was a college QB in a run-first offense at Georgia Southern. He was drafted by the Vikings with the idea that he could be brought along slowly in learning the running back position while backing up Peterson. As it turned out, Peterson was suspended for child abuse and McKinnon emerged as the Vikings’ starter. He played very well, averaging 4.8 yards a carry, and will either be the Vikings’ No. 2 running back if Peterson returns next year or the No. 1 running back if Peterson is gone. ... We'll be watching for more.