Minnesota Vikings: What to Expect from Adrian Peterson in Week 1 of NFL Action

Get your popcorn ready. It's Week 1 of the regular season. And do you know what that means?

Adrian Peterson is back.

Or is he? Well, we really don't know at this point.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, coach Leslie Frazier said a decision on Peterson's status for Sunday's game would likely be made Friday evening or Saturday morning.

In that same story, Peterson continued to make his case to play his normal role on Sunday.

"I haven't had any doubts," Peterson said. "That's not the way I'm programmed. It's not the way you accomplish things—to have doubts."

Peterson was just cleared for full contact in practice as of Wednesday, and he took his first dose of contact on Monday Aug. 27. It feels like it was just yesterday when the coaching staff implemented this rule: touch No. 28 and you're cut.

It's clear that Peterson wants to play. But it's also clear that the coaching staff and front office see the bigger picture.

Peterson is a $100 million investment. He is the franchise's best player and is the face of the team. If he suffers a setback in Week 1 against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, then the Vikings won't hear the end of it.

Toby Gerhart will be Minnesota's primary running back Sunday. That shouldn't be in question. What is in question is the kind of effect Peterson will have on the game.

It doesn't feel like Peterson's role in this game will be very great.

Gerhart is more than capable of rushing for 100 yards against the Jaguars. He's a player many have pegged as ready for a breakout campaign in 2012. It's not like the Vikings have an incapable backup. They have one of the better backups in the NFL.

Peterson wants to play and contribute—and rightly so. But the Vikings will limit him in Week 1.

Look for Peterson to accrue roughly five to ten carries, if any at all, for 25-40 yards.