Vikings' Mike Zimmer: Adrian Peterson likely to sit out preseason

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is likely to sit out the entire preseason. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn't "really see the need" for Peterson to play at all before Week 1.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is likely to sit out the entire preseason, according to ESPN.com. 

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn't "really see the need" for Peterson, who sat out the team's first two preseason games and has not had a preseason carry since 2011, to play at all before Week 1. 

Peterson tore his ACL in December 2011 and missed two games last season with a sprained foot. 

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Zimmer said he thinks his running back has gotten enough work in practice to prepare him for the regular season. 

"He’s doing a great job with the protections and the routes and obviously he runs really good," Zimmer said. "The only concern you have is he might not have been hit enough. But our guys are grabbing at the ball a lot. They’re punching at the ball as he’s running in there. I talked to him about those things."

Minnesota opens the 2014 season Sept. 7 against the St. Louis Rams. 

- Molly Geary