Friday NFL buzz: Adrian Peterson to play, some star wideouts won't
Check back here throughout the day for all the latest quick-hit news from around the NFL:
Adrian Peterson back
The Minnesota Vikings got a boost Friday when star running back Adrian Peterson announced his intention to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Peterson told Dash Radio that he feels good after a week of practice. He says he consulted with coach Mike Zimmer, the team’s doctors and athletic trainers and his wife before making the decision to play.
Peterson was not listed on the team’s injury report on Friday, meaning he is fully healthy.
Peterson has been out since undergoing knee surgery after he was hurt in Week 2. The Vikings rank last in rushing offense this season because of his absence and a depleted offensive line.
Peterson only gained 50 yards on 31 carries in the two games he played.
The Vikings are clinging to small playoff chances and cannot get into the field this weekend even with a win.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Aaron Rodgers on track to play
Aaron Rodgers was listed as questionable because of his strained left calf on the Green Bay Packers injury report, which puts him on track to play Sunday at the Chicago Bears.
Coach Mike McCarthy said there have been some benefits to resting Rodgers this week. With more time in the training room and off the practice field, Rodgers was able to start his mental preparation earlier than usual.
“It’s been normal,” McCarthy said, “except for practice. So we still have the same structure in meetings. It’s been more pre-planning for the game earlier than normal, just because of the fact that he’s not on the practice field. In the treatment, he’s able to watch more tape and more conversation going on there Thursday and Friday that you would normally have Friday and Saturday, as far as how you feel the game is going to go.”
Running back James Starks (concussion) and outside linebacker Nick Perry (hand) were listed as doubtful. Starks had a car crash Monday, but McCarthy said his running back is feeling all right other than the concussion.
— Ryan Wood writes for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, part of the Paste BN NETWORK
Key wideouts still banged up
If you're counting on a star receiver in your fantasy football playoffs, beware.
— Julio Jones, who leads the NFL with 1,253 receiving yards, will miss his second straight game for the Atlanta Falcons as he continues to deal with turf toe.
— The Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green is doubtful, still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered last month.
— A hamstring injury will also sideline the Indianapolis Colts' Donte Moncrief.
This week's fines
Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman was fined $18,231 for a hit away from the play on Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams last Sunday.
The Washington Redskins' Deshazor Everett was fined for two infractions against the Philadelphia Eagles, including a hit that concussed Darren Sproles, who won't play in Week 15. Everett's total penalty was $48,618 ($24,309 each).
Not fined were Tennessee Titans receiver Harry Douglas, whose block on Denver Broncos corner Chris Harris was controversial but legal. Arizona Cardinals lineman Calais Campbell's low hit to the knee of Miami Dolphins' quarterback Ryan Tannehill also did not cost him.
Giants in trouble?
The NFL could fine the New York Giants after coach Ben McAdoo was shown on TV using a walkie-talkie to relay plays to quarterback Eli Manning during Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys didn't file a formal complaint with the league, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. But they didn't need to, since NFL saw the violations live, and the Giants are facing a potential fine for violating rules laid out in the game operations manual, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak about the subject.
"We've touched base with the league, we're working through it right now," McAdoo said Friday. "I don't have anything to add, but we are working with the league on the incident."
He offered few other details, though said this was the first time this season the Giants' internal communications have been an issue.
The radio transmitter in Manning’s helmet used for communication with coaches on the sideline malfunctioned early in the fourth quarter. Television replays showed McAdoo using a walkie-talkie to relay play calls into Manning, who also ran to the sideline on several plays to get the call.
League rules mandate communication between the sideline and the quarterback shuts off when 15 seconds remain on the play clock. Use of walkie-talkies is prohibited because there is no way of enforcing the rule.
— Tom Pelissero, Paste BN Sports and Art Stapleton, who writes for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.), part of the Paste BN NETWORK
Stafford still assessing gloves
With two days left until the Detroit Lions play the New York Giants, quarterback Matthew Stafford is still deciding what type of glove to wear on his injured throwing hand, coach Jim Caldwell said Friday.
"Still working through it, what he thinks is comfortable for him," Caldwell said. "He’s doing pretty well. I’m not going to talk about the logistics of what he has on and how it works and all that stuff. I’m not going to get into all that. You talk to him, he may share of some that with you. But yeah, he’s doing OK. He’s working through it."
Stafford has practiced with a makeshift glove on his hand each of the last two days, in order to help him better grip the football. It wasn't clear whether the gloves were exactly the same.
The glove(s) left at least four of the five fingers on Stafford's throwing hand exposed and gave him extra support on his dislocated middle finger.
On Thursday, Stafford appeared to wear a glove that had a full middle finger on it, with tape covering the tip of the glove. On Wednesday, Stafford's glove appeared to cover up the bottom of the middle finger but leave the tip exposed. He appeared to have more tape on his finger Wednesday, though Stafford declined to talk about the glove in the locker room after practice.
Asked whether the gloves Stafford wore at practice were the same, Caldwell said, "He's had several on."
— Dave Birkett writes for the Detroit Free Press, part of the Paste BN NETWORK
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