Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is planning to practice this week, and he hopes to return to game action for an important divisional showdown in two weeks.
In an interview with DJ Skee on dashradio.com Monday, Peterson said he has circled Minnesota’s Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers on his calendar.
“I plan on practicing this week to really get my legs under me and get a good feel on where I’m at,” he said, as transcribed by John Shipley of the Pioneer Press. “So, this week is going to be big for me. My plan, and my vision, is to be back for the Green Bay game. That’s what I’m envisioning.”
The Vikings are currently two games behind the Detroit Lions for first place in the NFC North, but they are just one game behind the No. 6 seed Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card race. Peterson did not completely rule out playing against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but it does not seem likely.
“Of course, the perfect scenario would be we win out and I’m able to rest up for three weeks, and be ready for the playoffs. That’s the perfect scenario,” he said. “But I’ll be out there this week practicing, and I’ll go from there.”
That in itself is a bit contradictory. If Peterson is planning to return in Week 16, he can’t wait to see if the Packers win out. With the way things currently stand, Minnesota is not going to clinch a playoff spot before Week 16.
Peterson said previously that he will return this season as long as the Vikings remain in the playoff hunt, and they have done that to this point. The 31-year-old suffered an MCL injury in Week 2 (video here), but there’s a reason the team chose to make him their lone player on injured reserve with the ability to return. Don’t be surprised if we see him back in the coming weeks.
