The Detroit Lions are expected to give veteran running back Adrian Peterson the lead-back job as they prepare to face the New Orleans Saints.
The Lions had been employing a running back by committee approach, with Peterson sharing carries with Kerryon Johnson and rookie D’Andre Swift.
According to Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, Peterson is likely going to be the lead back for the immediate future as well.
“It’s not anything that those guys are or aren’t doing,” Bevell said, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. “We’re just trying to, again, accentuate their positives and put them in positions to be successful. You saw Swift. His plays were a little bit down. We want to keep those up and get him more involved. The one play he catches, he has a nice catch-and-run, looks fast, looks explosive.
“It’s just continuing to manage those guys and putting them in the best situations.”
Peterson, 35, is a future Hall of Famer and will now look to lead the Lions backfield moving forward.
“I’ve told you, this guy is a freak of nature now. I don’t know where that wall is or where he’s going to hit it. The guy is always asking for more,” Bevell said. “He is in great shape. He takes care of his body. He does all those little things to set himself up for that success.
“I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but he wants [the ball], we want him to have it and we’ll just keep continuing to go there and spell him with Kerryon, spell him with Swift and kind of go from there.”
Lions running backs coach Kyle Caskey spoke of the relationship he and Peterson have, and the open communication regarding reps and rest.
“He’ll tell me,” Caskey said. “That’s your answer right there. He’ll tell me when he’s had enough or when he needs a break. He’s communicated well with me since he’s been here. I don’t think it’s anything that I personally need to do to watch him.
“He will tell when he’s feeling whatever you want to call it. He is that way. He’s not scared to tell me anything, so it’s really good. It’s a really good coach-player relationship we have with everything.”
