MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson says he believes the New Orleans Saints were purposely trying to injure his sprained left ankle in their game on Sunday.

Peterson had 10 carries for 60 yards against the Saints after missing the previous three weeks with a high ankle sprain. He said after the game that he had expected the defensive players to target his ankle while trying to bring him down.

"Guys are going to try to take their shots when we're on the pile and try to twist it up and things like that," Peterson said, according to the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune.

But he took particular offense to one play where cornerback Jabari Greer twisted his ankle in a pile-up.

Peterson says he confronted Greer because he thought that "it kind of got overboard."

"I got up and kind of got in his face. Thank God I was able to keep my composure," he said, according to the Times-Picayune.

Peterson said he didn't injure the ankle any further in the 42-20 loss.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.