Jerick McKinnon took the handoff left and hit heavy traffic in his own end zone, bouncing off a Minnesota blocker to find a different route out of the end zone.

Somehow, he avoided the safety.

Racing right, the young running back scampered through a crease in the middle of the field to carve out a 10-yard gain for the Vikings in the second quarter of the exhibition opener at Cincinnati last week. McKinnon caught a short pass to convert a third-and-2 on the next play, too, extending a drive that ended with a long touchdown throw by Teddy Bridgewater.

McKinnon’s diverse set of skills and the nature of successful offenses in the NFL have made one of the smallest players on Minnesota’s roster one of the most important. Meaningless preseason games or not, McKinnon’s value is set up for another increase this season.

“It’s a good situation for me, I feel,” he said, alluding to the presence of Adrian Peterson in front of him.

For the Vikings, too.

“We want to be able to use Jerick a lot. I’m hopeful that he has a very good year,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “He’s a great kid. He works real hard. Doesn’t hardly ever make mistakes.”

The fact that Peterson has turned 31 is only part of this equation. If any player in the league can defy the limits of at-his-age production, Peterson is probably him. He led the NFL last season with 1,485 yards rushing with only six carries that netted more than 25 yards, all behind an offensive line that never found its footing.

Peterson simply isn’t the same threat when down and distance dictates a pass, in terms of both catching ability and blitz pickup. McKinnon can handle those tasks more to the coaching staff’s liking, and he brings the shift in style and stature that can be an effective change to throw at a team geared up for Peterson.