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Redskins pick Peterson: Redskins sign former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson

Posted at 2:44 PM, Aug 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-20 14:45:12-04

Running back Adrian Peterson. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – In need of help with their running back depth, the Redskins hope their newest addition can go ‘back’ to his old form.

Monday, Washington signed 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson to a contract. Mike Jones of USA Today reports Peterson receives a one-year deal.

Peterson, the seven-time Pro Bowl selection, is 33 years-old. Voted first-team All-Pro as recent as 2015, he’s rushed for just 601 yards the past two seasons – playing for three different teams. He was released by the Arizona Cardinals March 13th.

“Knowing what I have left in the tank – that’s the only thing that bothered me a little bit,” Peterson told Redskins play-by-play man Larry Michael on Redskins.com. “But I knew, in due time – the opportunity would present itself.”

Peterson (6-2, 220) is a 12-year NFL veteran after spending 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings after being selected in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. For his career, Peterson has appeared in 133 games with 123 starts. He has amassed 12,276 rushing yards (4.8 avg.) on 2,574 attempts and 99 touchdowns. In addition, he has recorded 252 receptions for 2,015 yards and five touchdown receptions.

He has rushed for at least 100 yards in 51 games including six games where he eclipsed the 200-yard mark. He currently ranks third all-time in yards per game (92.3) and is tied for ninth in rushing touchdowns (99). Peterson is 37 yards shy from entering the NFL’s Top 10 in career rushing yards.

“We want to bring them in to get physicals on them just in case,” head coach Jay Gruden said Sunday after reports surfaced the Redskins planned to consider Peterson and Jamaal Charles to provide running back depth. “We’ve had very unlucky situations with our running backs. If something else happens, we’re going to be really, really, really thin. We’re making sure we’re covering our bases right and we’ll address it when we feel like we have to. We’re not looking for a starter right now. We have Rob [Kelley], Chris Thompson, Kapri [Bibbs] has done a good job and Samaje – I don’t think is going to be very long at all. We have four backs right there. If we were to have another injury, we could bring one of those guys in to get them ready for Arizona.”

The Redskins face Arizona, the team with which Peterson last played, September 9th in its regular season opener.