Adrian Peterson maintains he is grateful to the Washington Football Team for giving him a chance to revitalize his career two years ago. In that span, the former MVP was Washington’s leading rusher each season and showed he had plenty left in the tank.
But in a recent interview with WUSA9, Peterson admits he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder when he gets to face his former team Sunday when the Detroit Lions host Washington.
Peterson joined the Lions shortly after Washington released him in August.
“They will get to realize what they let go,” Peterson said.
Washington’s release of Peterson surprised the running back, who had his contract option picked up months earlier. When making the move, coach Ron Rivera said the decision was more about the other backs on Washington’s roster than Peterson’s skill set. Washington has relied on rookie Antonio Gibson and veteran J.D. McKissic — both offseason additions — and Rivera didn’t see much playing time available.
With Detroit, Peterson has had a solid season. Through eight games, the 35-year-old has totaled 350 yards on 93 carries for two touchdowns. He’s part of a rotation that includes rookie D’Andre Swift and veteran Kerryon Johnson. Though Peterson has played just 33.95% of the snaps, he leads Detroit in rushing yards.
Peterson told the outlet that he was looking forward to seeing his former teammates and still appreciated Washington.
“It was a great journey and great opportunity,” Peterson said. “They allowed me to show that I can still play this game at a high level. I will always have love for the DMV area. It was critical for my career. It’s a reason why I’m still playing in this league now at a high level.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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