Adrian Peterson hasn’t played a football game since week 1 of the 2014 season, and some folks are concerned all the time off will cause the running back to struggle at least early on.
More from Minnesota Vikings News
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022
- Vikings have reportedly begun extension talks with T.J. Hockenson
Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner is not among those who think missing almost an entire season will adversely affect Peterson.
Speaking to KFAN’s Paul Allen Wednesday morning, Turner said Peterson’s native ability will help him overcome any rust that might be on his game after nearly an entire season on the shelf.
Norv - "He's so talented, and things come so easy for him, I don't think any of his time missed will hurt him"
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) June 3, 2015
Peterson himself said in his press conference that he believes a year off will only help him because now he is incredibly fresh.
After an offseason of tumult and chaos, Peterson arrived unexpectedly at Vikings OTAs on Tuesday and took his first practice reps with his teammates since last September.
Peterson also dusted off his slamming the media game, taking a shot at assembled reporters in the opening moments of his return presser.
Adrian Peterson's first words to the media: “It actually feels good to see some familiar faces in here. Some, maybe not so much.”
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 2, 2015
Peterson then went on to say all the things he needed to say in order to smooth things over with the fanbase in the wake of months of tension and uncertainty and sometimes outright combativeness.
Now that all the proper token gestures have been made, Peterson’s next task is to get ready for the season and prove that he can still play at a high level after almost a year off.
Norv Turner doesn’t seem too worried, but some won’t be convinced until they see Peterson toting the rock like the Peterson of old.
Next: Peterson's rant aimed at union, not Vikings
More from The Viking Age
- 6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings history
- Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North
- Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take
- 6 Vikings who (maybe) won’t make the 53-man roster in 2023
- Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022