Mike Zimmer confident in Adrian Peterson ability

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is confident that running back Adrian Peterson will recover from groin surgery to make an impact in the 2014 season.

Peterson had a down year by his standards in the 2013 campaign as he rushed for 1,266 yards along with 10 touchdowns, 800 yards fewer than his 2012 season.

Zimmer told reporters: "This guy isn't an average 28- or 29-year-old back.

"This guy is special and some of the things, when we were fixing to play him, some of the things that I thought, I watched him and I was like, 'Wow, if we're not really good in the way we line up and contain and be in the right positions, we're going to have a hard, hard day.'"

Zimmer became head coach of the Vikings in January after Leslie Frazier was fired.