The Facts: Peterson hasn't run the ball in a preseason game since 2011. He would like to change that this summer. The Vikings have been careful not to risk their star running back getting hurt in exhibition play since he suffered a serious knee injury in December 2011. Peterson, though, believes the time might be right for some game action in August. "I feel like getting out there and playing a little bit," Peterson said. "It's something that once that time comes around, I'll have a better feel for, like, 'Hey, I need to get out there just to kind of get the legs moving and get the pads (on) a little bit.' I can tell you, though, I'm definitely more itching towards playing a little more in the preseason than I have the past seven, eight years."

Diehards Line: Peterson, 31, did not play at all in preseason games in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He lined up in the backfield for a few plays in one 2013 game, but didn’t carry the ball. Peterson missed the final 15 games of 2014 because of a child-abuse incident. After not playing in the preseason, he looked rusty in last year’s regular-season opener, carrying 10 times for 31 yards in a 20-3 loss at San Francisco. While the Vikings and fantasy owners alike are used to Peterson going easy in the preseason, it would be nice to see him get in sync with what will be a re-tooled O-line in advance of September. We'll see if Peterson gets his way in that regard.