An offseason rich with speculation about the playing status of running back Adrian Peterson has been put to rest.
The Minnesota Vikings made it official Sunday, fewer than two hours before hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in their season opener:
Peterson promised all along to return from knee surgery in time for the team's opener, and his offseason labor has paid off. We still expect Peterson to be spelled heavily by Toby Gerhart as the game winds on against the Jaguars.
Peterson was listed as questionable on the team's injury report, but his return Sunday -- even if his workload is limited -- turns this Vikings-Jaguars affair into an intriguing battle.
UPDATE: Peterson was in fact out with the Vikings' starters and gained four yards on his first carry of the season.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
