The Minnesota Vikings kick off OTAs on Tuesday and a familiar face is not present on the field. As expected, Adrian Peterson is nowhere to be seen at Vikings' facilities as the running back makes it clear he is not happy with the franchise. Peterson has been lobbying for a trade ever since getting reinstated into the NFL. The Vikings have not budged on the demands and now the running back is holding out. Will that force the Vikings to make roster moves to help with depth?
According to ESPN's Ben Goessling, Peterson has informed head coach Mike Zimmer that he will not be reporting to OTAs this week. Peterson also did not attend option workouts last season, so his absence this year is not a total concern. However, this year Peterson's absence is to send a message that he is unhappy with Minnesota and wants to move elsewhere. Goessling writes that Peterson believes the Vikings did not support him enough during last season's child abuse charges that caused him to miss all but one game of the year.
Zimmer has made it clear that Peterson is expected to be the starting running back for 2015. According to the Pioneer Press, the Vikings are operating under the idea that Peterson will be the starter with Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata as his backups. However, right now McKinnon and Asiata as competing to start leaving questions of depth. If Peterson continues to hold out the Vikings might be forced to pick up a veteran on the free agent market to at least help for OTAs and training camp. Chris Johnson, Pierre Thomas and Steven Jackson are the best available at the moment.
The Vikings need Peterson. McKinnon and Asiata did enough last year to hold down the run game, but Peterson is the game-changer that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater needs to have. The Vikings upgraded the wide receiver spot with Mike Wallace along with drafting Stefon Diggs, but they did not touch the ground game in hopes that Peterson will return.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Peterson could start to threaten retirement in hopes of either getting traded or a new contract. La Canfora writes that several sources have reported that Peterson has talked retirement more than once and has maintained the idea that he will do whatever it takes to not play for Minnesota in the coming year. If the Vikings do not budge on trading Peterson, the running back could slowly be ruining any potential future he has in the NFL and retirement might be his only option.