Redskins Adrian Peterson Still Aiming to Break Emmitt Smith’s All-Time Rushing Record

Adrian Peterson with the Cardinals. Photo by Trask Smith/CSM/REX/Shutterstock

After Adrian Peterson managed to clinch the starting running back spot with the Washington Redskins for Week 1 game against his former team Arizona Cardinals, he can focus on reaching one of his lifetime goals. Despite being 33-years-old and his production rapidly declining over the past few seasons, Peterson still has a goal to break Emmitt Smith’s all-time rushing record.

Who knows? I’ve seen crazier things happen,” – Peterson said during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “In my mind, that’s a goal I’d still like to reach. I know it would take a heckuva feat to do that, especially how the NFL treats older backs. God willing, I’m able to continue to change that view and have opportunities to come out and play.”

The chances of that happening, however, are far from realistic. Adrian Peterson is 6,079 yards short of Smith’s all-time record of 18,355 rushing yards, and it is hard to see him getting much closer to it while he is approaching the end of his NFL career. Peterson has played only one full season since 2013 and has rushed for more than 1,000 yards once in the past four years. But, let’s wait and see what happens this season.

After getting released by Cardinals, Adrian Peterson patiently waited for the right opportunity, and it came just two weeks ago when Redskins’ running back core was shredded to pieces with season-ending injuries. Peterson stepped in, and he will most likely carry the majority of the load for the entire season if he manages to find his old form. That might just happen since it seems like he is more motivated than ever.

I feel like anyone who’s doing anything, you always have some doubters who give up on you, and it motivates you to keep pressing forward. So that’s been part of my motivation,” – said Peterson in a recent interview.

We’ll have the opportunity to see whether the 2012 NFL MVP has something left in his tank on Sunday when Redskins open the season at Cardinals.

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