The Minnesota Vikings claimed running back Ben Tate on waivers Wednesday from the Cleveland Browns, a league source told ESPN.com's Field Yates.
Unless he is able to win an appeal of his suspension, Adrian Peterson will miss the rest of the season. The Vikings have used rookie running back Jerick McKinnon as their primary ballcarrier in Peterson's absence, and have also given Matt Asiata plenty of work in passing and goal-line situations.
McKinnon, though, has been dealing with a low back injury, and did not practice on Wednesday. Asiata also missed practice with a concussion, and the health of both backs -- as well as the loss of Peterson -- could explain the Vikings' quest for more running back depth.
Since McKinnon played through his back injury last week, Asiata seems less likely to play in Week 12, and that may thrust Tate into a backup role against the Packers. McKinnon's workload is fairly safe, though the arrival of Tate doesn't help. It's a sign that the team is not optimistic about Adrian Peterson's chances of winning his appeal.
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