Adrian Peterson and Teddy Bridgewater never have been on the field together for a game. That is about to change.

Peterson returned to the Vikings on Tuesday after missing the final 15 games last season because of a child-abuse incident. After watching the running back go through a workout during organized team activities, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer was practically salivating about what he now has on offense.

“I do believe that we can be very, very explosive,” Zimmer said.

Peterson didn’t suit up during the preseason last year when Bridgewater was a rookie, and Bridgewater had not yet taken over as the starting quarterback when the running back played for the only time in 2014 in the regular-season opener.

Now, in addition to those two, the Vikings also have a deep threat in wide receiver Mike Wallace, acquired in March from Miami, and a healthy Kyle Rudolph at tight end. He was injured much of last season.

“We have a young team, a hungry team, an excellent young quarterback who has a year under his belt now and we have a lot of talent,” Peterson said. “We can accomplish great things.”

Without Peterson, the leading rusher in Minnesota history with 10,190 yards over eight seasons, it was a struggle at times on offense. The Vikings averaged just 4.4 yards per carry last season, down from 4.9 in 2013 and 5.4 in 2012 when Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards, the second-most in NFL history.

Peterson did much of his damage without a top-flight quarterback. Bridgewater figures to be the best signal caller Peterson has had with the exception of 2009, when Brett Favre had a banner season.

“We can be a top-five offense in this league,” said guard Brandon Fusco. “We can be a very effective and a very powerful offense. We have the pieces in place. We know what we can do as a team; we just got to put it together.”

Minnesota last year ranked 20th in the NFL in points scored and 27th in total offense. The Vikings have got a long way to go to reach the top five, but tight end Chase Ford said they can be as “good as we want to be.”

Peterson also is taking that approach. He might have turned 30, an age when many running backs fall off considerably, in March, but he’s not worried about that.

“I feel good,” Peterson said. “There are young guys, I’m not going to say any names, but there are young guys that I work out with in Houston, younger guys like 24, 25 and first-year guys that are going to play and I outrun them, outjump them and everything else. With that being said, age is just a number. It’s all about how you view it mentally.”

Fusco has been with the Vikings since 2011. He said Peterson looks as menacing on the field as he always has.

“Adrian looks like his old self out there,” Fusco said. “It’s nice to have him back out there and we welcomed him back with open arms. He’s going to be a weapon on this team. We’re young (at other offensive positions), but we’re very talented.”

The Vikings primarily used Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon to fill in last year for Peterson. While he was away from the team, he made a point of staying in shape by working out in his native Texas.

“I’ll be anxious to get out there, excited,” Peterson said. “Of course, I would have loved to be out there with the guys and playing, but that wasn’t the case. With that, I’ve got a year of recovery. My body feels good, feels fresh. My body was able to recover and just rest physically and mentally as well.”

Peterson hasn’t played in a game since Sept. 7, 2014 and Tuesday marked his first practice since Sept. 12, 2014. In order to help him get back to speed, Zimmer had him do extra work with running backs coach Kirby Wilson.

“We tried to get him acclimated on the things that we’re doing,” Zimmer said. “He’s going to have to put in some more work time, as far as all of that. There’s really not a prettier sight than when he’s got the ball in his hand.”

Peterson’s mere presence gives Zimmer a number of options. He decided to have some fun with that on the first play the Vikings ran Tuesday.

“Everybody knew Adrian was getting the ball, but (offensive coordinator Norv Turner) called a play-action pass, so the defense got fooled pretty good on that one,” Zimmer said. “Those are the kind of things that he helps us with.”

It remains to be seen whether Peterson, who hasn’t had a preseason carry since 2011, will get any in 2015. Regardless, the duo of Peterson and Bridgewater should be on display when the regular season opens Sept. 14 at San Francisco.

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.