MANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said the team is being cautious at the start of training camp with running back Adrian Peterson, who "tweaked himself a little bit in the offseason." But Zimmer didn't sound concerned Friday that Peterson would have any lingering injury issues.
"He's going to be fine," Zimmer said on KFAN-FM. "He did the conditioning test today. We're just being careful with him."
Peterson spent part of practice taking the test, which consisted of several sprints, direction changes and some route-running for athletic trainer Eric Sugarman. His only work during the Vikings' first practice was during an installation period, when he was on the field in a shotgun set with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for several plays. Otherwise, Peterson mostly held his helmet in his hand and watched practice.
Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson left practice early after making a diving catch on a deep pass from backup quarterback Shaun Hill. The receiver stayed on the ground for several seconds after his left shoulder appeared to crash into the ground, and walked off with Sugarman following the catch. Patterson, though, seemed to be in good spirits as he left practice, and Zimmer didn't sound worried about Patterson when he was on the radio.
"He made a great catch and it wasn't his left hand or wrist, I can tell you that,” Zimmer said. “I don't think it's anything concerning, but they're taking a look at it."
Here are several other notes and observations from the Vikings' first practice:
The Vikings spent part of their practice trying to stretch the field in the passing game, and while Bridgewater overshot his receivers on a couple passes, he also delivered a strike to Charles Johnson, who beat Xavier Rhodes with a double move, and hit another deep throw off play-action to Stefon Diggs, behind Terence Newman and Andrew Sendejo.
Laquon Treadwell got some brief work with the first-team offense, lining up in a three-receiver set with Diggs and Adam Thielen, but the Vikings spent much of their first practice with Johnson in the top group. Zimmer said Friday morning the Vikings will try a number of different combinations with personnel groups during training camp, so it's too early to draw any conclusions from the depth chart at this point. It was interesting, though, to see Thielen getting some early work with the top offensive unit.
For the times he struggled in his adjustment to the NFL during the Vikings' offseason program, rookie Moritz Bohringer did some nice things Friday. He made an impressive catch reaching back for a ball and slid to catch another throw over the middle.
Even before he got hurt, Patterson wasn't getting early work as a kick returner Friday, as the Vikings used their first practice to take a look at several other options. Diggs, Thielen and Marcus Sherels all returned kicks, as did receivers Troy Stoudermire, Marken Michel and Terrell Sinkfield.
What's next: The Vikings will hold another non-padded practice Saturday afternoon, with a walk-through at Blakeslee Stadium from 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. Practice is scheduled from 2:45-5 p.m. CT.