EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Adrian Peterson was back on the practice field on Wednesday for the first time in nearly three months, and the Minnesota Vikings hope their star running back can give them the jolt they need to chase down a playoff berth.

Peterson’s rehab of a torn meniscus in his right knee is nearly complete, allowing him to rejoin his teammates at practice as he ramps up for a highly anticipated return. Wearing a black brace on his right knee, Peterson took handoffs from Sam Bradford, ran routes and went through some agility drills during the portion of practice that was open to media.

Peterson was not available for comment on Wednesday, but did tell a local website earlier in the week that he is still targeting the Dec. 24 game in Green Bay for his first game since the injury against those same Packers in Week 2.

Coach Mike Zimmer did not rule out Peterson playing against the Indianapolis Colts (6-7) on Sunday, but that appears optimistic at this point. Peterson said last week that he likely would not play in a game this year if the Vikings (7-6) were eliminated from the playoff hunt, but after beating Jacksonville last weekend they remain very much in the mix in the NFC.

“He’s been a leader on this team. He’s one of the best players in this league and he has been for quite some time,” Bradford said.

PACKERS: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers plans to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears. He just didn’t practice Wednesday to focus on rehabbing his leg injuries, a plan Coach Mike McCarthy said will likely stay in place for the quarterback through Thursday.

NFL COMMISSIONER Roger Goodell isn’t saying whether he’s optimistic that San Diego and Oakland can keep their teams, while Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay considers both franchises all but gone.

Dean Spanos of the Chargers and the Raiders’ Mark Davis weren’t talking at the NFL owners meeting Wednesday in the Dallas area. And no new specifics were revealed by Goodell a day after city and county officials in Oakland agreed to open negotiations with an investment group on a $1.3 billion plan for a new stadium.

“As you know, these issues have been going on for an awful long time,” Goodell said.

The Chargers face a Jan. 15 deadline to decide whether to join the Rams in Los Angeles, part of a deal struck almost a year ago when owners agreed to let the Rams leave St. Louis. A Chargers-written ballot measure asking for $1.15 billion in increased hotel taxes to help fund a new downtown stadium was soundly defeated last month.

GIANTS: Odell Beckham Jr. is not listed on the injury report, but he has been bothered by a sore thumb for weeks.

It hurts when he catches the ball the wrong way, and he admits he has altered how he catches passes.

“You look at it differently,” Beckham said Wednesday when asked about the adjustments. “You try and find the spiral and just place your hands around it the best way you can without having to go through that contact. It’s something that crosses your mind, but certain times it crosses your mind more than others when you’re going to make a catch.”

Beckham’s statistics say the thumb isn’t a big problem. He is tied for fourth in the NFL with 79 catches for 1,109 yards and nine touchdowns, including a game-winning 61-yard catch and run in the Giants’ 10-7 win over Dallas on Sunday night.

CARDINALS: Arizona released wide receiver Michael Floyd on Wednesday, two days after the 2012 first-round draft pick was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and failure to obey a police officer.

Coach Bruce Arians declined to comment on the move other than to say it was a “totally” unanimous decision by him, team President Michael Bidwill and General Manager Steve Keim.

FALCONS: Coach Dan Quinn has a more optimistic outlook on the toe injury to star receiver Julio Jones’ injury knowing it’s a sprained toe instead of turf toe.

Jones missed Wednesday’s practice after being held out of last week’s 42-14 win over the Rams. Jones’ status for Sunday’s game against San Francisco remains uncertain.