The Sports Xchange

MANKATO, Minn. — Adrian Peterson used to lobby for preseason carries. He would be itching for contact that isn’t permitted to come his way during training camp for obvious reasons.

But now he’s older. Wiser. At 30, he’s OK with a cautious plan that includes a fourth consecutive preseason without Peterson carrying the football for the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’ve been doing it for a long time now,” Peterson said. “So I really grew out of trying to play in the preseason. It really doesn’t matter. You might as well throw out all your marbles when it really counts.”

Peterson hasn’t carried the ball in the preseason since 2011. His only action in that time was three snaps in the third game of the 2013 preseason. He also endured no contact in those three plays.

Peterson said he is looking forward to his first contact in almost a year. He played only the season opener last year before missing the final 15 games while dealing with the fallout of child-abuse charges.

“I am looking forward to it, but also with that being said, I’m being patient as well,” he said. “I think I can wait until the first (regular season) game against the Niners’ on Sept. 14.

For now, just getting back to football has been a joy for Peterson.

“It’s a good feeling,” he said. “It’s relaxing. It’s a different mindset going into it. The best thing has just been being around the fellas.”