MINNEAPOLIS — Forget Week 1. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has his sights set on participating in part of training camp.
Speaking Thursday at the team's annual playground build, Peterson updated his rehabilitation after undergoing knee surgery in December to repair tears to his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. Peterson, who originally set a goal of being ready Sept. 9 for Week 1 of the regular season, now believes he might be able to participate in team drills before the end of training camp.
"I imagine myself being stronger and doing a lot on the side," Peterson said. "I also imagine myself to get out there and be involved some, too. That's my imagination."
Peterson is only five months out from Dec. 30 surgery on his left knee, which was injured in Week 16 at Washington when a defender hit his knee from the side while Peterson's leg was planted. Along with the ACL and MCL tears, doctors cleaned up some damage to the meniscus.
Peterson has been running since the beginning of April and has stepped up his rehab workouts to include lateral movement drills. He's very aware of the timetable, with training camp set to start July 27 and close Aug. 16.
"I'm conscious of it," Peterson said. "I know it's coming around soon. But I'm just worrying about what I can right now, and that's doing my rehab, focusing on my body and trying to get this leg as strong as possible to be able to participate in training camp."
Three weeks ago, Peterson was already showing off his enhanced movement while allowing media an inside look at his rehabilitation regimen, which included a side-to-side drill in which he caught a soccer ball and passed it back before shuffling across and repeating the task. Peterson also ran circles around a hoop at a quick speed, ran sprints the width of the field and showed some explosiveness by leaping from a standing position onto boxes about 3-1/2 feet high.
At the open practice portion of the Vikings' organized team activities Wednesday, Peterson was racing receiver Percy Harvin, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, up a steep incline hill at the Vikings' facilities at Winter Park. The two are pushing each other during their rehabs.
"We both hate to lose, so I was definitely talking to him when I got up there," Peterson said. "The first couple of times he got me, and I was like, ‘Percy, you know I am trying to beat you every time.' He was like, ‘I know AP. I know.' I actually got him a couple times. It's all fun, but it's to prepare me for the next level."
Peterson also participated in individual drills with head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman on the side. In one drill, Peterson would balance on his left leg while catching a ball thrown by Sugarman. The running back also practiced hopping on his left leg.
He said the biggest obstacle that remains is regaining explosiveness in his cutting ability.
"Just becoming more explosive and that comes with getting more strength in this leg and being able to cut the way I want," Peterson said. "I think here soon I'll be able to be as close as I was before."
Throughout his rehab, Peterson said he hasn't paid attention to timetables other injured players have followed or worried about negative talk he wouldn't be able to return at full strength in such a short amount of time.
"People heal differently," Peterson said. "If I listened to all the critics, I'll be out a year and a half, two years. I'm just doing my thing."
And his thing has him right in line for a chance to compete against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the season opener, if not sooner.
"Definitely confident in that," Peterson reiterated about being ready for Week 1. "I've been working hard to get back as soon as possible. It's all about just being patient and continue to do what I'm doing. We'll see what happens."
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