Six months after tearing Achilles, Bucs defensive end Da’Quan Bowers to make 2012 debut

Adrian Peterson missed practice on Monday and Tuesday with an ankle injury, but the four-time Pro Bowler is active and will start for the Minnesota Vikings against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. Peterson, who underwent major knee surgery in January, is currently tied for third in the NFL with 652 rushing yards.

Not playing for the Vikings is tight end John Carlson, who suffered a concussion in Sunday's 21-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' pass rush, which has just eight sacks on the season, will get a boost from the return of defensive end Da'Quan Bowers. The 2011 second-round pick out of Clemson tore his Achilles during the offseason and spent training camp and the first seven weeks of the regular season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Bowers returned to practice last week and was added to the 53-man roster on Thursday afternoon, releasing cornerback LeQuan Lewis to complete the transaction.

Tampa Bay: RB Michael Smith, WR Chris Owusu, TE Danny Noble, G Cody Wallace, LB Najee Goode, CB Myron Lewis, S Keith Tandy

Minnesota: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, WR Jarius Wright, TE John Carlson, OT Mark Asper, LB Audie Cole, CB Brandon Burton, S Mistral Raymond