RB Adrian Peterson 'excited' to help Titans with Derrick Henry hurt

It remains unknown if Tennessee Titans running back and former Most Valuable Player candidate Derrick Henry will return this season after he underwent successful foot surgery this week to repair an injury. Tennessee responded to that setback by signing veteran ball-carrier and future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson to its practice squad and, according to Jim Wyatt of the club's website, by promoting Peterson to the active roster ahead of Sunday's prime-time game at the Los Angeles Rams. 

"I am excited to be here," Peterson explained Friday. "You think of an ideal situation for a running back like me and my style, it would be this right now. So, I am just going to live in the moment, enjoy it, and do whatever they ask me to do.

"It was a warm welcome (from teammates). Guys seem excited to have me here. But, of course, it's about what you can do, now. I feel like once I came out, and the way I approached practice and the meeting room, I know guys are watching and kind of feed off that as well. My whole mindset is to let them know: Hey, I am coming in here, I am serious, and I want to do whatever I can to do to contribute and help this team continue to be successful."

Peterson turned 36 years old in March and hasn't logged a single significant carry all season. He did, however, record 604 rushing yards and seven touchdowns across 156 attempts with the Detroit Lions during the 2020 campaign, and he's eager to show his new teammates he still has plenty in the tank. 

"I feel good," he added. "If they call my number, I'm going to go out there and contribute any way that I can. I do a great job of keeping my body in shape, mentally and physically, and keeping myself prepared for a moment like this." 

Peterson is fifth all-time with 14,820 career rushing yards but, per his comments, seems more concerned with helping the Titans earn wins than with bolstering his personal stats this fall and early winter.