Adrian Peterson had a sore neck Sunday afternoon. A good kind of soreness, he noted, the type of general discomfort that told him he was officially back and in his element.
"I was actually kind of excited about it," he said. "I know that the body is getting that … I don't know what you call it. It felt good to pound the rock."
Felt like old times. Back at home, cheered by Vikings fans, punishing a defense with his sledgehammer running style.
Over and over and over again.
"It was working [so] just stick to it," he said. "Why not?"
Oddly rendered a bystander in the season opener, Peterson moved back to center stage in the Vikings offense in a 26-16 victory against the Detroit Lions in the home opener.
He carried the ball 29 times for 134 yards in his first game at TCF Bank Stadium and his first home game since his season-long exile.
His return was marked by emotion and imperfection. It was a strange homecoming.