Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson continued his recovery from a knee injury Monday by taking contact in practice for the first time.
Peterson is attempting to return from a torn ACL and MCL suffered on Dec. 24 of last season. He took hits during practice, although it wasn't full contact. Defenders did not hit Peterson low or take him to the ground. Still, it was an important step in Peterson's recovery process.
"We put him through some things today," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said, according to 1500 ESPN. "We told our defense to hit him a little bit and wanted to see how he responded. So I'm anxious to talk with him and see how he did."
Peterson will not play in the Vikings' final preseason game, but is targeting the team's regular-season opener for his return. Whether he will be able to play in that game is still yet to be determined, but Monday's practice is just another positive in his path back from injury.
"He hasn't had any swelling or any soreness," Frazier said. "Everything has gone relatively smoothly at this point. He's been doing well."
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