Although the rehabilitation process has been strenuous for injured Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson, it appears the talented runner could be in line for a decent amount of work in the preseason according to coach Leslie Frazier.
Frazier spoke with Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com about Peterson's progress from the debilitating knee injury that ended his 2011 campaign, and mentioned that he believes the Pro Bowler should be able to ramp things up in the coming weeks. "We'll see how he progresses," Frazier said. "But ideally, you'd like to see him get some carries at some point in the preseason just for his benefit, where he can gain some confidence and get a feel for where he is and where he needs to be by the first game of the season."
While the team made the decision to place him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list before training camp, Peterson took handoffs and ran simulated situations with trainers on Saturday in what can only be viewed as a promising workout. "That's what we're trying to get done," Frazier said, "just to simulate somewhat some of the things he would do in drill work to see how he responds and one of the keys is what happens the day after."
Peterson has remained steadfast in his goal to play in Minnesota's opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 9, and even clamored to be added to the training camp roster earlier this month. But considering how there might not be a more dynamic running back in professional football when fully healthy, however, the Vikings seem wise to be taking a cautiously optimistic approach with their star player at the moment.
For more on Peterson's injury status, stay with this StoryStream. For more Vikings news, head over to Daily Norseman, and for more NFL coverage be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub.