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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Adrian Petersons return to practice has brought much optimism to the Vikings late in the regular season.Peterson has been wearing a brace supporting the right knee, which underwent meniscus surgery earlier this season.Peterson and the Vikings (7-6) are tempering any thought of a swift return for this Sunday against Indianapolis.Speaking on Thursday for the first time since returning to practice, Peterson didnt hold firm to any return date, but acknowledged his hope of being back on Dec. 24 against the rival Green Bay Packers.That was the goal I had set for me, so Im just going to continue to take it one day at a time, Peterson said.When that time comes, as a group, well sit down and talk and see which direction its best to go in.Peterson said hes felt good in his return to practice and the reports were encouraging from coach Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.However, there are many factors in determining when Peterson can return to game action.Zimmer said Peterson went through a full practice but needs to continue to work. Peterson said hes still gauging the progress of his knee as well as getting into game shape. Then theres also the aspect that Peterson is 31 years old and is owed $11.75 million base salary next season in the final year of his contract, along with an $18 million salary cap figure.Hoping to regain full health and continue on his Hall of Fame-type pace, Peterson said the future is also on his mind.I would be lying to you to say that its not factoring in, Peterson said. Of course, that will be something that goes into that circle of so many things to consider.Peterson isnt returning to the same offense, either. Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator when Peterson went down and has since resigned, leading to Shurmur taking the lead of the offense.Theres still a lot of stuff that remains the same, just a couple wrinkles in there thats a little different, Peterson said.Peterson had 50 yards rushing and a 1.6 yards-per-carry average in the first two games before tearing the meniscus and opting for surgery.Without him, the Vikings havent established much of a ground game with Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata.Minnesota has dealt with injuries along the offensive line, too, with starting tackles Matt Kalil and Andre Smith out for the season.The Vikings are one game behind Tampa Bay for the final wild-card spot in the NFC, despite ranking last in the league in rushing with a 73.4-yard average.Theyre certainly some new things that were doing that hes not as familiar with, Shurmur said. Hes been in meetings. Hes been around. Hes somewhat familiar with what were doing, but knowing it and actually going out and executing it are two different things.Peterson said he plans to continue to wear the brace and will do so in games. In the past, hes preferred to play without any type of brace.As Peterson and Zimmer both said, the teams medical staff will play a big role in determining the date of any potential return.In my mind, Im telling myself that its 100 percent healed, Peterson said. But I really wont know until I look and see from images. With that, got to be smart about how you approach everything going ahead.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL .Easton Stick Chargers Jersey . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Jerry Tillery Womens Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Drue-Tranquill-Elite-Jersey/ . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Easton Stick Womens Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Joey Bosa Jersey . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2.A look at Saturdays NFL preseason matchups:LUCKY DAYIndianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck thought hed return to the field before the end of last season. When his lacerated kidney refused to cooperate, Luck established last weekends Hall of Fame game as the target.That didnt happen either, when the game was canceled because of poor field conditions.Lucks next chance comes Saturday at Buffalo.Yeah, maybe a bit, Luck said when asked if he was more excited to play this preseason after not appearing in a game since Nov. 8. Maybe a bit just to get out there and be back on the football field.Luck is expected to play at least a couple of series in an interesting test against Rex Ryans defense. Last season, Luck struggled against the Bills in a 27-14 season-opening loss that set the tone for the worst season of Lucks pro career.---NOT RISKING REGGIERex Ryan is taking no chances of risking Reggie Bush to injury.The Bills coach said the recently signed running back/return specialist is going to sit out Buffalos preseason opener against the Colts on Saturday. The 31-year-old Bush signed with Buffalo two weeks ago and is fully recovered since having surgery on his left knee in November.Hes listed as the Bills starting kickoff and punt returner and is set to open the season as the primary backup to LeSean McCoy.Ryan doesnt expect starting receiver Sammy Watkins to play either. Watkins returned to practice Monday after missing four months recovering from surgery for a broken left foot.---NEW RUNNING BACK FOR SEAHAWKSFor the first time since early in the 2010 season, the Seattle Seahawks are without Marshawn Lynch on their roster.The process of figuring out who takes his place begins on Saturday when the Seahawks travel to Kansas City for their exhibition opener.The projected starter is Thomas Rawls, who filled in more than admirably last season when Lynch missed time with an abdominal injury. Rawls rushed for 830 yards and four touchdowns, and averaged 5.6 yards per carry.But Rawls is coming off a major ankle injury that required offseason surgery. He was only activated off the physically unable to perform list earlier this week. Rookie draft picks C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks are out with minor injuries as well. Look for rookie Alex Collins to get the bulk of the carries against the Chiefs, while converted running back George Farmer will also get extensive playing time.---GOING GREEN IN LAThe Rams are selling tickets they didnt plan to at the LA Coliseum forr Saturdays preseason opener against Dallas -- the first NFL game in Los Angeles since 1994.ddddddddddddThe game could end up drawing close to the stadiums capacity of 91,000. And as with most road games for the Cowboys, one of the questions will be how many of those fans are wearing the silver and blue.Not only has Dallas always been a big road draw, but the Cowboys have held training camp in California off and on for more than 50 years. That includes the past five camps in Oxnard, about 60 miles north of LA.But this supposed to be a celebration of the return of the Rams, 70 years after their first move to LA from Cleveland. The team moved to St. Louis for the 1995 season.I dont know what its going to be like, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. We do anticipate support for them, but there has been a presence for the Cowboys here for a long, long time.Rookie Jared Goff said he believes the tempo of practice and quality of the Rams defense has him prepared for his first NFL action. He expects to treat it like every other game, though there will be one notable difference as he will be coming off the bench. Goff, a three-year starter at California, didnt remember the last time he did not take the first snap in a game.Coach Jeff Fisher hasnt divvied up playing time just yet, but indicated starters would likely play two or three series.---PLAYS FOR A GOOD CAUSEThe Tennessee Titans coaching staff wont be calling the first two plays of their preseason opener against the San Diego Chargers.That honor instead will go to two groups of fans that bid $10,000 each to earn that right. The auction occurred during a charity dinner benefiting Make-a-Wish Middle Tennessee and the Kevin Carter Foundation.For the first preseason game -- the first two plays -- youre going to get probably five kids that are going to get wishes for life, Titans coach Mike Mularkey said.Mularkey said Thursday that the winning bidders already had selected their plays.One of them asked a very good question: If the other team knows that were picking the play, are they going to expect something like a gadget, Mularkey said.I said, `Thats a good question. Now you understand what we deal with every Tuesday when were in here for 14 hours. They had fun with it. It was really a great experience for everybody.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '