Patrick Peterson has found success in his transition to Minnesota, playing at a high level in his first six games as a Viking.

Now the 11-season veteran is navigating uncharted waters.

The Vikings announced Monday that Peterson was being placed on Injured Reserve after leaving Sunday's game at Carolina.

It is the first time Peterson, who has played 160 regular-season games since his selection in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by Arizona, has ever landed on Injured Reserve.

Minnesota is in its bye week, but Peterson will miss at least the next three games (vs. Dallas on Oct. 31, at Baltimore on Nov. 7 and at the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 14) because of the designation.

Peterson joined his "All Things Covered" podcast with Bryant McFadden Monday to recap the play on which he suffered the injury and diagnosis. He also explained his mindset going forward.

The cornerback was running in stride with Panthers receiver DJ Moore down the Carolina sideline late in the fourth quarter. The pass fell incomplete, and Peterson went to the turf grabbing the back of his leg.

He and the Vikings hoped it was just cramps, but Peterson explained he "pulled a hammy."

"The play was fourth quarter, first down, coming out of a timeout, backed up. DJ [Moore] just ran a go [route]. I honestly felt, I was cramping going into that drive on the sideline because it started in my calf. That's why I kind of thought I was cramping, because I didn't feel a pop or anything. It was like that last stride, because once I recognized the route, that he was going for a go, now I'm trying to get into high gear and look back for the ball, my hammy said, 'Unh-unh.'

"It gave on me," he added later. "And then [the reason] I thought it was cramps was my back started locking up, my stomach started cramping, my other leg started cramping up, so I said, 'Get me inside. I think it's a body cramp. Get me some IVs and I'll be all right.' IVs obviously wasn't enough."

When Peterson got back to Minnesota Sunday, he said he spent about three hours in his personal hyperbaric chamber while starting his film study on Dallas.

Further evaluation Monday led to the decision to place Peterson on Injured Reserve with the hope he can progress enough to be designated for return once he completes his rehab.

"When the docs told me that I felt like I had been stabbed in my heart. This morning, honestly, I felt that because I told my wife, 'This is the worst I've ever felt.' I couldn't sleep last night. I couldn't do nothing, bro.

McFadden, who played seven NFL seasons and won Super Bowls XL and XLIII with Pittsburgh, knows. He said, "I'd rather have a sprained ankle, a severely sprained ankle" than a hamstring injury.

Minnesota's bye week will at least come at a good time for Peterson, who vowed to prepare for Minnesota's next three games the same as if he were going to start in them. He wants to pass what he can glean to younger players tasked with facing some prolific offenses.

Peterson said he wants to do everything he can to be ready by Nov. 21 when Minnesota is scheduled to host Green Bay.

"I was hoping it would be something minor, and then the doctor told me I'm going to miss like a month, I was like, 'I've never had this conversation before,' you know what I mean? It was tough receiving that news, but me in my mind, I'm like, 'Naw, to hell with that. I know I'm going to get some good treatment,' " Peterson said. "I'm literally going to be rehabbing around the clock because I feel like, you know, every athlete feels like they're different."