Reasonable expectations for Adrian Peterson’s return to Vikings
![Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5f3d25548dff41b63970076355cd2891ac1cf1d7e189e71feaa2b91260449648.jpg)
Adrian Peterson returns to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday after he was activated off the injured reserve and looks to help his team’s playoff pursuit.
The Minnesota Vikings made it official on Saturday morning with the activation of Adrian Peterson off injured reserve. Peterson was injured in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers when he suffered a torn meniscus.
After starting the year without Teddy Bridgewater and later losing Peterson, the Vikings still began the season with a 5-0 record and looked like a contender to come out of the NFC. Fast forward to mid-December and the Vikings are 7-6 and on the outside looking in for a postseason berth.
Getting Peterson back this week should give the team an emotional boost in addition to the positive impact he will have on the dreadful run game. “I’m extremely hungry to get out there and help these guys win. That’s what it’s all about,” Peterson said this week. “That’s why I do it.
“It’s not for yards or anything like that. It’s for the guys in this locker room, the sweat during training camp and OTAs,” Peterson added. “We’re brothers, we’re family. We spend so much time with each other, even more than with family, so the reason I’ve fought so hard to get back is for the guys like Chad Greenway, B-Rob (Brian Robison), Terence Newman, all of these guys in this locker room, including the coaching staff.”
Peterson nearly set the NFL single-season rushing record in 2012 when he finished with 2,097 yards, nine shy of the record held by Eric Dickerson, as the Vikings went 4-0 down the stretch to get into the playoffs.
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If the Vikings win the last three games with No. 28 in the backfield, that could be enough for the Vikings to get a spot in the playoffs. With his fresh legs and the team’s defense, the Vikings could be a tough out if they get in.
I wouldn’t expect the 2012 version of Peterson this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, but I would definitely be starting him on any fantasy team and would expect at least 75 yards and a score.
As we’ve seen in the past from Peterson, he defies all logic so set the bar high if you’re a Vikings fan and hope he can be the spark the team needs to get to the playoffs.