The Sports Xchange

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has assumed a leadership role with two of his teammates during summer workouts until the start of training camp.

Peterson brought wide receiver Mike Wallace and running back Jerick McKinnon with him to Houston for workouts with his longtime personal trainer.

Peterson has always shown up to camp in top shape because of intense offseason workouts with trainer James Cooper.

“(It’s) a lot of strength work as well,” Peterson told ESPN.com. “I do so much different stuff, whether it’s track workouts, on the field, hill workouts, running three miles, exercise with the full-body workout. Whatever the trainer throws out there in front of us, it’s a challenge. I’m always trying to accomplish that challenge.”

Peterson tweeted out a photo of the group, which went through a four-hour workout on Thursday running hills, cutting in a sand pit and lifting weights.

Peterson buried months of bitterness directed at the Vikings and showed up for two weeks of voluntary organized team activities and the mandatory minicamp.

Once he hit the field, even without pads, the Vikings were reminded why they steadfastly refused to trade or release a 30-year-old running back due to make $12.75 million this season.

“There’s no prettier sight than Adrian with the ball in his hands,” head coach Mike Zimmer said during minicamp earlier this month.