Adrian Peterson's fumbling was one of the few problems the Minnesota Vikings had last season.
These days, they might wish their All-Pro running back's ball security was their biggest issue. Thanks to Brad Childress, Brett Favre, Randy Moss and all the other cast members in this year's drama, Peterson has been in the background.
Perhaps, then, Peterson's performance has gone unfairly unnoticed this fall after all the heat he took for leading the NFL in fumbles over his first three seasons. Other than a sloppy handoff earlier this year that led to a lost fumble charged to Favre, Peterson hasn't turned the ball over once. He has touched the ball 249 times -- rushing attempts, plus receptions -- without a fumble, lost or recovered.
"Just keeping it high and tight," Peterson said. "Just watching film from last year, I've seen where I was in situations where I was being too careless with the ball: scratching for extra yards and having the ball away from my body, leaving opportunities for guys to punch it and rake it out."
Peterson's fumble-free streak isn't exceptional. According to sports researcher STATS LLC, he ranks 28th on the active list with 259 consecutive regular-season touches from the line of scrimmage without a lost fumble. Tony Gonzalez, the Atlanta Falcons' tight end, is at 942. Kansas City Chiefs running back Thomas Jones is next at 803.
"It may sound crazy, but I don't think there is as much focus on it this year," Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "Sometimes you can put too much focus on something and it kind of goes crazy, but he's done a great job of protecting it, and we focus on it each and every day. I think he's changed the way that he's practiced, and he did work to be able to correct that problem.
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"He's done a nice job with it."
This week, Peterson is just trying to get healthy. He has another streak on the line, too: 51 consecutive games played, including the postseason, dating to his rookie year in 2007. He tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee and missed two games then. This time, it's a sprained right ankle he suffered last weekend against the Washington Redskins.
"The pain has went away, and the flexibility is getting back to where it needs to be," Peterson said. "It's feeling good."
Peterson didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but the plan is to participate Friday. His hope, of course, is to play against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
"I know my training staff will make sure I'll be ready to go," Peterson said. "And I know my body better than anybody else, so if I can go, I'll definitely be going."
Peterson tried to persuade the Vikings to let him back in the game last Sunday, even with pain he described as throbbing, but he insisted he'll be smart about not pushing too hard.
The Bills are better off believing Peterson will make it.
"If you go in there not expecting it and he shows up, you're in trouble," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "You better go in there with everything ready to try to stop him."
Though they've had a few games in which they've stopped opponents' ground attacks with some success, the Bills are last in the NFL with an average of 167.4 rushing yards per game allowed. Five times, they've surrendered 200 yards or more.
Peterson, who passed the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season last weekend, would love to have an opportunity to play against that group.
"It's going to be a great challenge for us," Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny said. "Even though he's a little banged up, he's still a prime-time player. Any time he gets the ball, he can take it."
Meanwhile, Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin is dealing with another migraine headache, so he didn't practice Thursday. Interim head coach Leslie Frazier said he hopes Harvin can participate Friday.
Frazier said he hopes Peterson, Edwards and Hutchinson can practice Friday.
Wide receiver Greg Lewis (concussion), wide receiver Sidney Rice (hip) and cornerback Chris Cook (knee) didn't practice Thursday, either. Frazier said Rice was out as a precaution.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
