Adrian Peterson doesn't think he's all the way back yet
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has set the bar very high for himself.
Despite rushing for 134 yards and gaining 192 total yards in a win over the Detroit Lions in Week 2, Peterson -- who played in just one game last season -- doesn’t think he’s back to the No. 28 of old.
“I worked extremely hard to be able to come back and be able to go and not look like I’ve missed a step,” Peterson said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “But I can tell. (With) 130-something yards, people say, ‘Oh, he looks good,’ and this, that and the other. But me personally, I wasn’t the Adrian Peterson I remember last Sunday.”
Peterson averaged 4.6 yards on 29 carries and caught two passes for 58 yards against the Lions. However, his signature finishing ability wasn’t always there, and it looked like a little of his burst was still missing.
He also fumbled three times, including one after a Lions turnover and another near the goal line (which was negated by penalty). The ball security issues likely stemmed from Peterson’s lack of contact over the last 12 months.
He said the big workload against the Lions will pay off in future games, including this Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
“I really was able to kind of get my body broken in in this game,” Peterson said. “Like 30-something touches, so my body really took a pounding. So I had to build that callus over the entire body as I get back out there. So I’m sure guys will be bouncing off me a little more this Sunday.”
Despite his own harsh criticism, Peterson was still the most productive running back of Week 2. If he has a step or two left to gain, look out.
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