The Titans have agreed to a practice squad deal with Adrian Peterson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The practice squad part seems to be a formality, however, as RapSheet hears that he’ll soon be elevated to the 53-man roster. 
[RELATED: Titans’ Henry To Miss Time]
Peterson will help fill in for Derrick Henry, who will miss anywhere between 6-to-10 weeks with a foot fracture. This marks the veteran’s first deal of 2021 and a huge opportunity for him to defy Father Time once again. While Peterson is years removed from his prime years as a top-tier rusher, he was still productive with 604 yards and seven rushing touchdowns for the Lions in 2020.
“The training is going well and I’m going to control the things that I can control right now, and, when that time comes, somebody will give me a call,” Peterson said over the summer (via Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790). “[A chance] is all I’m asking for. My body feels good…I still feel young. I still feel good. I’m ready to play ball.”
Peterson, 36, is just 180 rushing yards shy of 15,000 for his career. Depending on how the Titans use him, he could be just a few weeks away from joining Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Frank Gore and Barry Sanders in the elusive 15,000-yard club. He’s also about 500 yards away from leapfrogging Sanders for fourth all time in rushing yards and six rushing TDs away from besting Marcus Allen for third place.
Peterson might not start immediately for the Titans, but he’ll surely stand as their biggest name at RB while Henry is out. Once he’s promoted to the 53-man roster, he’ll slot somewhere alongside Jeremy McNichols on the depth chart.
Seems like a very good fit to me. The NFL needs a feel good story to offset the Watson and Gruden scandals and maybe AP can provide one.
Sorry dude but this is a huge L for the titans with so many other useful young backs available
On the FA market? Like who?
If you’re talking trades, then sure, but takes two to tango and TEN may have no desire to trade anything of value to acquire one.
@Mr Goodkat: I don’t know what it would take to acquire him, but Wayne Gallman has 8 total carries this year for the Falcons after getting 682 yards on 147 carries (4.6 avg) last year for the Giants and just turned 27 years old. But you’re right, it takes two to tango and maybe the price is too steep.
Kerryon Johnson is probably the best one imo that’s a fa but they could probably get an rb via trade for a 6th rounder
The only one I’ve seen is Mack, and Indy isn’t trading Mack in the division to the Titans.
This is a good signing.
How many useful young backs are available? Let alone those who fit Tennessee’s system and carry requirements?
We can throw out some names to try, but there isn’t anyone currently available who we’ve seen deliver that type of production with that many carries. Peterson is a shell of his former self, but he is used to running downhill and is a volume back.
VIkings Mattison would be a great fit for Titans……….young , cheap and on a crappy Vikings team who are desperate for draft capital.
Like who…..”DUDE”?
Kerryon johnson
Not sure how Peterson is a “feel good” story considering has a history of beating his child with a switch.
Did he beat him or just switch him or aka spanking him? If he did the latter then what’s wrong with that? Not spanking children is exactly why they grow up to be hoodlams!
A child beater is a better story than Gruden or Watson? Not picking but it shows short term memory loss by fans.
Which is why teams aren’t afraid to to trade for Watson. It’ll be a non-issue in short time. No different than Vick. Everyone was outraged he got back in the league. Then he went off and everyone loved the highlights. And Mike loved his second $100m contract.
Nothing about Adrian Peterson is feel good. That dude’s so washed up he’s on an island with Tom Hanks.
Man, how far has Todd Gurley fallen when teams are willing to sign a guy 9 years older than him? Haha
To be fair, this is Adrian Peterson we are talking about. Gurley was good when healthy, but he was no AD. AD has also been extremely durable his whole career, even into his 30s. Todd Gurley was injured just by you putting his name into text.
Looks like AD was sitting at home hoping for an injury and a interested team to come calling. Titans should of called the Giants and tried to trade for Barkley.
That might be good for the short term (especially considering that Henry is almost the entire offense-and definitely the engine that powers it, which makes that position so important), but where does that put Barkley when he returns? Plus NYG will want a very good pick for him.
Peterson is someone who can carry a heavy load and that they can let go after the season’s end. Plus, he is a downhill runner like Henry. I think it’s a good signing, even with the understanding that the offense will be taking a major step back.
@mlb – you need to stop obsessing over Barkley…lol.
AD > AP. Glad people still recognize AD all day
Child Services certainly recognizes him…
Every year it seems this guy finds a starting gig by Week 5. Little late to the draw this time but nevertheless will be fun to see him on the field in 2021!
Gore could return to stay ahead of him on the all-time rushing list. 🙂
Good pickup
Wonder whatever happened to Bryce love? He’s much younger and had that potential.
lets go gores up next
Agent communicated to Peterson by saying:
“YO, ADRIAN!, I DID IT !
Nice pic upload Zach!
Fire Zack links
Interesting that this site censors comments and yet shows that picture of him wearing a helmet that was taken out of circulation in order to appease the movement…