Even though he missed the last 15 games of the 2014 season, don’t count on seeing Vikings running back Adrian Peterson take the field in any preseason games this year.
According to the Pioneer Press, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer doesn’t think Peterson will play in any of the Vikings five preseason games.
“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,” Zimmer said. “He’ll get plenty of looks and reps in practice.”
Peterson sitting out preseason games is nothing new. Sports Illustrated notes that the former league MVP hasn’t carried the ball in a preseason game since 2011.
But the 30-year-old running back hasn’t seen any game action since week one of last season – missing games over a child abuse case. Even he admits that there is some rust he’ll have to knock off.
“I feel like we’re kind of working my way up to what Norv Turner wants to accomplish,” Peterson told the Pioneer Press. “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. I’m still catching up with everything, but ultimately I felt good.”
Peterson returned for Vikings Organized Team Activities last week after skipping much of the team’s offseason workout program. Those were his first practices since he left the field last Sept. 12.
If he doesn’t play in any of the preseason games, Peterson’s return to the field will come Sept. 14 in the regular-season opener at San Francisco on Monday Night Football.
