The Minnesota Vikings finally have running back Adrian Peterson safe and sound at home. However, that doesn’t mean he’ll play before the start of the regular season.
When asked if Peterson would participate in preseason games, head coach Mike Zimmer said it likely won’t happen, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
“I probably don’t see that, no. We’re talking in June, so you can’t hold me to it, but he’s carried the ball a lot (in his eight-year career) and he’s going to continue to carry the ball a lot. He’ll get plenty of looks and reps in practice.”
This is pretty much par for the course when it comes to Peterson taking preseason snaps. He hasn’t participated in a preseason game since 2011, yet it clearly has never impacted his production.
Peterson commented on potentially sitting out of the preseason:
“It’s the same as before, nothing new. I don’t think (he’ll be pushing to play). They’ve seen enough of me. I’ll be ready to play. I feel good. I feel like we’re kind of working my way up to what (offensive coordinator) Norv Turner wants to accomplish. To be able to go out there and with everything that he has presented, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel like I’ve missed a beat.”
Zimmer already said that Peterson looks as conditioned as ever, noting it doesn’t look like Peterson has missed a single day.
After all the time it took Minnesota to get Peterson back with the team, risking his health preseason as he prepares to begin NFL season No. 9 would be foolish.
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