Seahawks activate Adrian Peterson to make his Seattle debut Sunday vs. 49ers

Playing out the string just got a bit more interesting for the Seahawks.

As became apparent Friday they would, they promoted future Hall-of-Fame running back Adrian Peterson from the practice squad to which they signed him Wednesday to the active roster Saturday. He will play Sunday, when Seattle (3-8) tries to win for the second time in more than two months, against San Francisco (6-5) at Lumen Field.

Friday, coach Pete Carroll had been especially, characteristically coy about whether Peterson would make his Seahawks debut against the 49ers.

Yet did anyone truly believe 36-year-old most valuable player from the NFL’s 2012 season left tailgating and watching his Oklahoma Sooners play in person to sign Wednesday with the Seahawks just to watch them play, too?

Carroll said Peterson has already affected the sunken team with his work ethic and example, in just three days.

“Adrian had a good week,” Carroll said.

“It’s probably hard for people on the outside to understand the impact his kind of background can make. At a time where we’re battling to try to win a game and get going, he jumped in here and had a remarkable influence on the week.”

Peterson is here not just for moral support, though the Seahawks need that. They need healthy running backs, too. Again.

Their most chronically injured position has lost lead rusher Chris Carson for the season to neck surgery he will have this month. Alex Collins has played through groin and abdominal injuries since soon after replacing Carson as lead back in mid-October.

Collins did not practice Friday, which made it even more likely Peterson would suit up.

Rashaad Penny is also questionable. The first-round pick from 2018 who is supposed to be the number-two back behind Carson is hurt. Again. He has a strained hamstring. A calf strain had him on injured reserve through September into November.

Third-down Travis Homer is also questionable to play Sunday. He has a strained calf. Collins, Penny and Homer are questionable to play Sunday.

Peterson has looked tall, sleek and ready to play in his two days of practices for Seattle, his sixth NFL team. Tennessee released him Nov. 23, after he rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown over three games when Titans’ lead back Derrick Henry was hurt.

“I feel like I’ll be able to flow with this style of offense and how their run game is,” Peterson said of the Seahawks. “It kind of fits my style a little more than, I would say, Tennessee. “I think it will be an easy adjustment for me.”

Peterson has instantly impressed his new teammates, Carroll and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron with how hard he practices.

“He came in and you can see why he’s one of the greatest of all time to play the position,” Waldron said. “Came right in, worked hard right from the start, from the walkthroughs, in the meetings, treating it like he’s in a new setting, so wanting to absorb and learn all the information.

“A guy like him, he’s been around every type of play there is, every type of run there is. He’s able to pick things up very quickly. Just his positive vibe has really melted right in to our culture here and the way that we approach every single day.”

Even in morning walk-throughs meant to go over plays in a methodical, chalkboard-like manner, Peterson has been sprinting as if trying to get to 15,000 career rushing yards during those meetings.

“It’s a big part of it, just because it’s a rare opportunity for our guys to see somebody like that, that has that kind of background but stands for so much more than just the numbers and the stats and all of that,” Carroll said. “He’s been a remarkable competitor, forever. It was so obvious.

“It was really a boost for a bunch of guys, the young guys in particular. He’s serious about playing. He’s not just here for show. He’s here to come here and try to help us win a game.”

Peterson said he was just getting going and feeling in midseason form after three games when the Titans, when Tennessee abruptly cut him.

The Seahawks’ offense is 25th in the NFL in rushing with all the fill-ins for Carson. Seattle has scored just 28 points total in its last three games, quarterback Russell Wilson’s first games back from surgery on his throwing hand.

The Seahawks have lost all three of those games, including the first shutout loss of Wilson’s 10-year career, to end most of the meaningfulness to this season.

Now Peterson at least adds some intrigue.

How does he feels he can help?

“I think the attitude I bring to the game,” he said.

“I don’t really feel like I showed too much in Tennessee, but before I got released, I was feeling like my legs were back under me. I felt like going to the Patriots week, that was the week I was going to blossom. Unfortunately, I got released. I feel like there’s a lot I can add to the run game and inspire these young guys as well. Make those guys work harder when they see me out there pretty much going full speed during a walkthrough 14 years in, that’ll make them kind of pick up their tempo a little more as well. I feel like I’ll be able to add to the running back room and help get this running game going.”