Adrian Peterson has said he is set to sign with the Detroit Lions following his release from Washington.

The veteran running back, 35, was surprisingly cut by Washington earlier this week but has quickly found a new home ahead of the 2020 NFL season, which begins next week.

Peterson confirmed he was travelling to Detroit to sign for the Lions in a text to reporter Josina Anderson.

"They're giving me an opportunity to play," he said.

"I know coach [Darrell] Bevell from my days in Minnesota. Ultimately I feel comfortable going there and helping them to get better."

Bevell is the offensive coordinator in Detroit and held that role for five seasons with NFC North rivals the Minnesota Vikings – where Peterson enjoyed the best years of his career – between 2006 and 2010.

Peterson, drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, was a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his four seasons working with Bevell in Minnesota and he led the league in rushing yardage in 2008 when he amassed 1,760 yards.

Since leaving Minnesota after the 2016 campaign, Peterson has played for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals and Washington – for whom he accrued 1,940 rushing yards across two seasons.

He will enter his 14th year in the league hoping to add to 14,216 career rushing yards, which are the fifth-most of all time.

Detroit legend Barry Sanders is fourth of the list with 15,269.

The Lions had already drafted running back D'Andre Swift in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and he is expected to compete for starting snaps with Kerryon Johnson, another second-round pick who has struggled to stay healthy since entering the league in 2018.

Detroit begin their 2020 season against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field next Sunday.