The Vikings regime may be different, but the narrative is the same in Minnesota: PROTECT ADRIAN PETERSON! (at least until the regular season opener.)
It’s looking like first year head man Mike Zimmer will air on the side of caution and hold out Peterson for the duration of the preseason, and why wouldn’t he? The Vikings have kept the ball out of his hands for the past two preseasons for fear of injury, and coming off a season shortened with foot and groin injuries; it would only make sense not to risk his health. Not to mention a third straight offseason undergoing a surgery, this one to repair his groin.
Zimmer is not without some concern though, admitting that the lack of contact for Peterson could potentially have a negative effect:
“The only concern you have is that he might not have been hit enough but our guys are grabbing at the ball a lot, punching at the ball when he’s running through there, and I talk to him about those things”, said Zimmer.
Peterson, 29, has been a full participant in Zimmer’s first offseason program and is saying he’s ready to go, although he understands the Vikings would rather use his services when the games count:
“Yeah, I’m wired up,” Peterson said. “I try not to get too wired up. I have to stay calm and get ready for the opener in St. Louis. But yeah man, I’m ready to go. Each and every year for eight years now I’ve been ready to roll.”
Peterson knows the drill. He might as well load up on sunflower seeds and relax on the sidelines until the Vikings opener on Sept. 7 in St. Louis.
[h/t Fox Sports]