GREEN BAY, Wis. – Anyone who watched Julius Peppers run – and run and run – on his 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in Thursday's victory over the Minnesota Vikings had to come away impressed.

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy certainly was.

Here was a 34-year-old outside linebacker, all 6-foot-7 and 287 pounds of him, turning the corner and pulling away from 22-year-old rookie running back Jerick McKinnon, who just so happened to run a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

McCarthy was so impressed with what Peppers did with the ball in his hands that he said -- seemingly as a joke -- that Peppers might have a new role.

"Yeah, he might be working with the offense this week," McCarthy said.

Peppers' size and athleticism might actually translate to offense, especially in goal-line situations perhaps as a tight end, but the Packers have not flirted with that since they signed him in the offseason.

In fact, a search of Peppers' snap counts over his career show no sign that he has played on offense either in Carolina (eight seasons) or Chicago (four seasons) before coming to Green Bay.

The Packers' sideline went wild as Peppers scampered toward the end zone on what was his 10th career interception. In the process, Peppers became the first player in NFL history with at least 100 sacks and 10 interceptions.

"He continues to amaze everyone, including myself," Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said.