Top pick plays more than token role

Adrian Peterson's first explosive dash in the NFL will have to wait for at least another week.

Peterson, the seventh overall pick in the draft last April and the guy the Vikings are hoping can provide a big-time spark to their offense, had a long run of 7 yards in his preseason debut Friday. He averaged only 3.0 yards on a team-high 11 carries. But the smile Peterson wears everywhere remained present as he answered questions following the Vikings' 13-10 loss to St. Louis at the Metrodome.

"I'm picking it up," Peterson said of his transition to the NFL. "I definitely have got to adjust to the speed and those gaps. They are just like that [he snaps his fingers]. They'll be there, then they won't. Once I get that down and start picking it up a notch I think everything will start rolling."

There were questions about how much time Peterson would get Friday, or if he would even play at all. After arriving in camp late because of a contract holdout, Peterson suffered a hip flexor injury and missed five practices. He was eased back recently, but coach Brad Childress said his status would be a game-time decision.

Peterson said Thursday he had been told he would definitely play. Evidently any worries about Peterson's health were gone by the time the Vikings took the field.

Peterson entered the game on the Vikings' second offensive series in the first quarter. He gained only 1 yard on his initial rushing attempt; on the next series he went off right tackle and didn't even get a yard. Welcome to the NFL, kid.

"I definitely was nervous being my first game," said Peterson, whose mother and daughter were in attendance. "My dream has been to be in the NFL, and just being out there the first snap I was kind of nervous. But once I got going a couple plays after that I kind of loosened up a little bit."

Peterson was given plenty of opportunity to loosen up. He finished the first half with 21 yards on eight rushing attempts; he also caught a pass for a 2-yard gain. Peterson touched the ball in every quarter except the fourth.

"I thought he took a decent look at some of those runs," Childress said. "I thought he should power inside at the end of some of those runs. He didn't have any of those breakout runs. But little things, he's learning about running with his eyes. Not everyone is going to circle the defense. Everybody is fast in this league. I'm anxious to look at what he saw. I thought he was disciplined with his course intensity, which is huge, putting trust in those blocks from linemen on the linebackers."

Peterson said that his hip felt fine and that he's anxious to watch film to evaluate his performance.

"Just being quicker on my cuts and little things," he said. "I'm pretty sure I'll be able to pick it up. I could have done this and I could have pressed it more or could have cut it back sooner. Once I watch the film, I'll be able to see those little things out and correct."

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com