Friday buzz: Adrian Peterson won't play in Week 16, Julio Jones will
Check back here throughout the day for all the latest quick-hit news:
Adrian Peterson back on the shelf
Adrian Peterson's 2016 comeback may have lasted all of one week.
After returning from knee surgery Sunday to play for the first since Week 2, Peterson will be back on the sideline Saturday as he deals with knee and groin issues.
Given a prohibitive 2017 salary, it's possible Peterson has played his final game for the Minnesota Vikings.
Receiver Stefon Diggs is also questionable for Minnesota due to a hip problem.
Good news, bad news for Bengals
Wideout A.J. Green could return from a hamstring injury that cost him four games on Saturday night. The Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowler is officially questionable, but it sounds like Green plans on suiting up.
However tight end Tyler Eifert (back) will not be available against the Houston Texans.
Gordon still out
San Diego Chargers tailback Melvin Gordon's quest for a 1,000-yard season will have to again wait as knee and hip problems will continue to keep him sidelined.
Gordon has run for 997 yards in a breakout sophomore season.
Honey Badger's season over
A forgettable 2016 season for Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu ended Friday when the team announced it had placed him on injured reserve.
Mathieu suffered a shoulder injury in Carolina in late October, and played in just two of the last six games. He also never regained all of his speed and quickness after undergoing surgery a year ago to repair a torn ACL.
Mathieu struggled last week against the Saints and gave up a touchdown. Earlier this week, coach Bruce Arians acknowledged that Mathieu was less than 100 percent.
“He gave it everything he had,” Arians said. “It ain’t Ty.”
Arians said it was Mathieu’s knee, not his shoulder, that caused him to play poorly against the Saints. Mathieu has worn a brace all season and has said numerous times that it diminishes his speed and quickness.
— Kent Somers writes for The Arizona Republic, part of the Paste BN NETWORK
Donald racks up more fines
The NFL fined defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams a total of $42,540 for his actions in a game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15.
Donald was flagged for grabbing a facemask in the fourth quarter of the Rams’ 24-3 loss. He was then whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct for picking up the flag and throwing it back toward the official. The league fined Donald $18,231 for unnecessary roughness and $24,309 for the second infraction.
Donald has now been fined $82,040 this season for five infractions.
— The Associated Press
Ryan Mathews' injured
The Philadelphia Eagles' depleted backfield will be thinner in Week 17 with Friday's news that Ryan Mathews is done for the season with a herniated disc in his neck.
Could be a big finale for Darren Sproles.
Jones good to go
What coach Dan Quinn suggested Thursday became official Friday.
Atlanta Falcons wideout Julio Jones, who missed the past two games with a sprained toe, is no longer on the injury report and should return Saturday against the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons could clinch the NFC South crown this week.
Jones leads the league with 104.4 receiving yards per game and needs 71 yards to overtake Odell Beckham, who played Thursday, for most overall.
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