Looking to bolster their running back depth, the Seahawks are turning to one of the best running backs in NFL history, signing Adrian Peterson to their practice squad on Wednesday.
"I'm excited to see if he helps out and give us a little something," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "He's a player that I know I've known forever, way back to his high school days, and I admired him tremendously over the years. Always disappointed we didn't get him back in the day, but like I just told him, we finally got him. So I'm looking forward to seeing how he does and see where he can fit it. He's an incredible competitor and a great guy, so I'm anxious to give him a chance to get on the field with our boys."
The Seahawks also signed receiver Cade Johnson and safety Elijah Benton to the practice squad Wednesday.
The Seahawks have been without top running back Chris Carson for most of the season, the result of a neck injury that required season-ending surgery, and two other backs, Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer, are dealing with injuries that kept them out of last week's game. Alex Collins, who has handled the starting role since Carson's injury, has been playing through an abdominal injury for multiple weeks. With a short-handed rushing attack, the Seahawks rushed for a season-low 34 yards on 12 carries in Monday's loss to Washington, with two Russell Wilson scrambles accounting for 16 of those yards.
Peterson, 36, is a seven-time Pro-Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro, last accomplishing both in 2015 with Minnesota, where he spent the first 10 seasons of his career. A member of the 2010s NFL All-Decade team, Peterson led the league in rushing in 2008, 2012 and 2015, and earned MVP honors in 2012 when he rushed for 2,097 yards, the second-highest total in NFL history behind Eric Dickerson's 2,105 in 1984. Peterson's 119 rushing touchdowns rank fourth all time.
And while Peterson has been a Pro-Bowler in recent years, he has remained a productive back well into his 30s, rushing for 1,042 yards and seven scores in 2018 with Washington, and rushing for 1,502 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past two seasons with Washington and Detroit. Peterson appeared in three games with Tennessee earlier this season, rushing for 82 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries.
Carroll noted it's too soon to know what Peterson will bring to the team seeing as he has yet to take the practice field, but added, "He plays just as aggressive and tough as he ever has, so I'm anxious to see what he adds to the club, and he's fired up about it too."
Johnson, who signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State in May, spent most of the season on Seattle's practice squad before being released last week. Benton, who went undrafted out of Liberty last year, signed with the Browns after the draft and started the season on their practice squad, later appearing in one game. He spent time on New England's practice squad this year before being released last month. The Seahawks had two openings on their practice squad, having released receiver Phillip Dorsett II and running back B.J. Emmons on Tuesday.
Take a look at running back Adrian Peterson over the course of his NFL career. Peterson, who signed to Seattle's practice squad on December 1, 2021, has played 15 seasons in the league and is a seven-time Pro-Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro.
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, right, looks to run the ball as Denver Broncos safety John Lynch comes in to cover in the third quarter of the Broncos' 22-19 overtime victory in the teams' NFL final regular-season football game in Denver on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson answers a question at the 2007 Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Year news conference Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Defensive back Bob Sanders #21 of the Indianapolis Colts tackles running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 14, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Colts defeated the Vikings 18-15. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 8: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the football against the Green Bay Packers at the Lambeau Field on September 8, 2008 in Green bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Vikings 24-19. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
Cincinnati Bengals' Chad Ochocinco talks to Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson (28) after the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 30-10. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 1: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with teammate Adrian Peterson #28 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 1, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Vikings defeated the Packers 38-26. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs for a touchdown with Arizona Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes (25) closing in during an NFL football game in Minneapolis Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Andy King)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) takes a knee, points skyward, and celebrates after scoring a third quarter touchdown on a 3 yard run that cuts the Green Bay Packers lead to 24-7 during the NFL week 10 football game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday, November 14, 2011 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 45-7. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) carries the ball during a Week 7 NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on October 23, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Packers won 33-27. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2012, file photo, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) celebrates with teammate Jerome Felton, right, after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Minneapolis. Adrian Peterson avoided jail time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in a plea agreement reached with prosecutors to resolve his child abuse case. (AP Photo/Genevieve Ross, File)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson accepts the AP Most Valuable Player award during the 2nd annual NFL Honors award show at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is introduced prior to an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) in action against the Baltimore Ravens December 8, 2013 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore defeated Minnesota 29-26. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, left, and linebacker Alec Ogletree, right, defend during the first quarter an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, center, talks with teammate Xavier Rhodes, right, on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs for a gain during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 49-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) stretches before the NFL regular game against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won, 23-20. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) hugs Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the NFL preseason week 2 game on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 in Seattle. The Vikings won, 18-11. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28), of Team Rice, lines up in the backfield during the NFL Pro Bowl football game against Team Irvin on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Honolulu. Team Irvin won 49-27. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints running back Adrian Peterson gives a thumbs-up to photographers as he walks off the field after taking part in an NFL training session at the London Irish rugby team training ground in the Sunbury-on-Thames suburb of south west London, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. The New Orleans Saints are preparing for an NFL regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
New Orleans Saints running back Adrian Peterson (28) carries the ball during NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017 in Charlotte, N.C. Saints won 34-13. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson prepares to take the field before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Landover, Md. The Eagles defeated the Redskins 24-0. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson (26) runs the ball during a NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville,Fla. (Logan Bowles / NFL)
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson (26) poses with Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) and defensive end Everson Griffen (97) following an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 19-9. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson (26) runs for yardage during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 40ers Sunday Oct. 20, 2019 in Landover, Md. The Redskins were defeated by the 49ers 9-0. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson lines up for a play during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Lions RB Adrian Peterson (28) celebrates a touchdown during the game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 in Detroit. The Texans defeated Detroit 41-25. (Zachary Silver via AP)
Tennessee Titans running back Adrian Peterson (8) runs upfield during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans won 23-21. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Tennessee Titans running back Adrian Peterson (8) waves to fans following an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Titans defeated the Rams 28-16. (John McGillen via AP)
