MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl fullback Jerome Felton will miss Friday’s exhibition game against Buffalo, and perhaps the rest of the preseason, after having an emergency appendectomy.

The Vikings announced the surgery Wednesday night, not long after holding their last practice of training camp at Minnesota State, Mankato.

Felton was integral in Adrian Peterson’s 2,000-yard season last year. Peterson had long preferred to run without a fullback in front of him. But with Felton plowing the way, Peterson racked up the second-most yards in a single season and won the league MVP award. Felton signed a new contract to return to Minnesota in the offseason.

After the game Friday against the Bills, the Vikings have two games left before opening the season at Detroit on Sept. 8.