Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs for a short gain against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. The Vikings won 25-16. Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Peterson returned to practice this week after he was designated for return from IR on Wednesday. The team had a 21-day window for evaluation before making a decision.
Sunday’s game will be three months to the day that Peterson suffered a torn meniscus against Green Bay in Week 2 on Sept. 18. He underwent surgery the following week on Sept. 22 and began rehabbing with the goal of returning this year.
The Vikings’ career rushing leader has 11,725 yards and 97 touchdowns on 2,412 carries. The 31-year-old has won the league rushing title three times.
–Cam Newton will be under center Monday night for the Carolina Panthers, who also have a chance to get their quarterback on defense back for the road matchup at the Washington Redskins.
Although Newton underwent an MRI exam earlier in the week because of soreness in his throwing shoulder, Carolina coach Ron Rivera pronounced the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player good to go after Saturday’s practice.
Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has been sidelined for the past three games with a concussion, also could return against the Redskins. Kuechly practiced fully all week and on Saturday was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol.
–The Cleveland Browns promoted wide receiver Mario Alford from their practice squad on Saturday.
Alford, 24, is in his second NFL season out of West Virginia. He was originally selected by Cincinnati in the seventh round of the 2015 draft when Browns coach Hue Jackson was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator. The 5-foot-8, 177-pound Alford appeared in one game for the Bengals, making one catch for 15 yards.
Alford was signed to the Browns’ practice squad on Tuesday. He spent four weeks on the New York Jets’ practice squad earlier this season. Alford could get a chance to return kicks and punts for Cleveland.
–The Detroit Lions signed cornerback Adairius Barnes to the team’s practice squad and released linebacker Brandon Chubb to make room.
Barnes rejoins the Lions after originally signing with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Louisiana Tech during the offseason. He appeared in seven games (one start) and posted four tackles prior to being released on Thursday.
Chubb returned to the Lions on Nov. 30 after originally being signed to the practice squad on Oct. 18 before he was released. He entered the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams earlier this season as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Wake Forest and later joined the Rams’ practice squad at the beginning of the regular season before being released on Sept. 12.
–The Green Bay Packers provided themselves with insurance by promoting rookie quarterback Joe Callahan to the active roster.
Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to play in Sunday’s game against the NFC North rival Chicago Bears despite being plagued by a calf injury. Brett Hundley is the team’s backup, but the inclusion of the 6-foot-1, 216-pound Callahan provides Green Bay a bit of flexibility.
Rodgers will test his ailing calf in pregame warmups and the Packers could make Callahan inactive as a result.
–The Chicago Bears activated Alshon Jeffery to the active roster and placed fellow wide receiver Marquess Wilson on injured reserve.
Jeffery had been on the exempt list after serving a four-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug policy violation. Despite sitting out the last four games, the 26-year-old Jeffery leads the Bears with 630 receiving yards on 40 catches heading into Sunday’s home game versus the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers.
Wilson fractured his left foot for the third time in a span of 12 1/2 months and finished the season with just nine receptions for 160 yards. In his second game back, Wilson reeled in eight passes for 125 yards and one touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. He missed last Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions with a groin injury. Wilson has 56 catches for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 31 career games.
