Patrick Peterson wants to remain in the weeds of his work this week.
The Minnesota Vikings cornerback, who spent the first decade of career with the Cardinals, returns to Arizona Sunday as his new team plays at State Farm Stadium. But Peterson is staying locked in to his preparation.
Asked by Bryant McFadden on his All Things Covered podcast about what a desert return will feel like, Peterson avoided dropping any bulletin board material.
“You know, Mac, I really don’t know, but at this moment and at this time, it’s a regular game,” he said on an episode released Tuesday.
Peterson, of course, hasn’t been so subdued since his departure from the Cardinals.
In July, he ripped Arizona general manager Steve Keim for going radio silent amid the cornerback’s entrance into the free-agent market. That caused Peterson to lose respect for Keim, the corner said.
Peterson, an eight-time Pro Bowler after Arizona drafted him fifth overall in 2011, indeed dealt with a less-than-pristine departure from the Cardinals even before free agency started. He struggled at points over his final several years with the team, requested a trade in 2018 before rescinding the demand, and then suffered a six-game suspension due to a positive test for PEDs.
With that, how the cornerback is received by fans in the Red Sea will be curious.
“I have no idea, Mac. I really, really don’t,” Peterson said. “Like it’s going to be all new to me. So I really don’t know what to expect. For the most part, I’m treating this like a regular game. I don’t want to get too high, don’t want to get too low.”
Peterson debuted with Minnesota in a 27-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He allowed two catches for 13 yards and was targeted three times, according to Pro Football Focus.
Extra points
— Peterson on likely matching up with Cardinals No. 1 receiver DeAndre Hopkins: “D-Hop is a very, very talented receiver. Obviously don’t drop many balls at all. Great 50-50 ball guy. … Sometimes when you have a guy like that, you have to be on your Ps and Qs for 60 minutes.”
— On Chandler Jones’ five-sack performance against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1: “The thing about Chan though, it doesn’t even matter if someone helps. He’s got so much in his arsenal, it’s not even funny man. He’s so difficult to prepare for because he presents so many different challenges. … He’s a different specimen, man, he really is.”