5 running backs the Green Bay Packers could acquire

3. Adrian Peterson, New Orleans Saints

It was easy to see coming, to everyone except for him apparently, but Peterson has been a poor fit with the Saints thus far. He has 23 carries for 77 yards in three games, and he tallied his first two catches of the season last week against the Panthers.

Peterson is also now reportedly dealing with a sore knee, but his absence from practice on Thursday was officially reported as a day of rest. With his history of knee issues, including last year, any further problems are enough to cause some alarm now and going forward.

There are signs Peterson has some of his old form left though, via this clip from last week’s game offered by NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger.

That’s Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, who is obviously no slouch, that Peterson ran into and through last Sunday. Apart from the uniform colors, you could mistake that for Peterson circa 2012 or so. Of course being able to repeat physical and bulldozing runs like that, at 32 years old now, is the challenge.

The Packers were not known to have serious interest in Peterson during the offseason, with his age, lack of versatility and perhaps his asking price playing a role in that. Those things, minus the asking price, are still in play now. But Peterson would be no worse a fit in Green Bay than he has been in New Orleans, and the Packers could try to swing a trade.