Adrian Peterson was a healthy scratch on Sunday, so is asking the Redskins for his release the next step?
With head coach Jay Gruden’s declaration Derrius Guice would operate as the Redskins’ lead back, questions about Adrian Peterson’s role naturally surfaced. Then came talk Peterson would inactive Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, and when Washington declared their Week 1 inactives the future Hall of Famer was right there on the list. It’s the first time in his career he has been a healthy scratch.
There may no player currently more keenly aware of his legacy and standing all-time than Peterson. He currently sits eighth on the all-time rushing list with 13,318 yards as he’s within striking distance of No. 5 Curtis Martin (14,101 yards). So any games missed games without an injury don’t fit with reaching that goal, and apparently Peterson’s teammates are more upset with the decision to deactivate him than he is.
Peterson has been down a road like this before. He signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2017, joining Mark Ingram and some rookie named Alvin Kamara in a three-man running back rotation. He immediately complained about a lack of snaps after the season opener, and after four games he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Redskins brought Peterson back on a two-year deal in March, with $1.5 million in guaranteed money (signing bonus) and a base salary a little over $1 million. Cutting him would clear that $1.030 million in cap space, while taking on $750,000 in dead money via the prorated portion of the signing bonus.
Much as Guice’s torn ACL last year opened the door for Peterson to sign with Washington, an injury would be needed for Peterson to find an opportunity elsewhere. If his inability to play special teams is really a determining factor in his weekly active/inactive status, it’s safe to say Peterson won’t be thrilled. And that leaves out if Guice asserts himself as the lead back, and renders Peterson to a handful of carries per game.
If things trend toward his being inactive again for Week 2, reporters will surely post up at Peterson’s locker to get his reaction. A private request for his release could easily follow, if it doesn’t come quickly after Sunday’s decision to make him inactive.