Washington cuts Peterson, goes with youth in backfield
Washington released running back Adrian Peterson on Friday, a stunning move by first-year coach Ron Rivera in the name of getting younger.
Peterson, 35, played the past two seasons for Washington, rushing for 1,940 yards and 12 touchdowns in the fourth stop of a career that likely will earn him a Pro Football Hall of Fame spot. He originally signed in 2018 after rookie Derrius Guice was lost for the season with a knee injury and kept his starting job in 2019.
Now, after Guice’s release following a domestic violence arrest, he, Peterson and longtime third-down back Chris Thompson are gone. Third-round draft pick Antonio Gibson figures to start, with Bryce Love an option after working back from knee surgery and J.D. Mckissic filling Thompson’s old role.
Gibson played a hybrid running back/receiver role at Memphis, and Rivera compared his potential to that of Carolina’s Christian Mccaffrey.
Peterson is 1,053 yards behind Barry Sanders for fourth on the alltime rushing list and needs 12 TDS to catch Marcus Allen for the third most in NFL history.
■ Eagles: Contract extension talks between the team and threetime Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz have come to an “abrupt halt,” NFL Network reported, with the team offering less guaranteed money than its November offer. The 29-year-old is signed through 2021. Also, cornerback Craig James signed a one-year extension through 2021 worth $1.52 million, with $300,000 guaranteed.
■ Broncos: Linebacker Todd Davis was released, clearing $4.5 million in salary cap space. The 28-year-old started 59 games over the past four seasons but was in the final year of his contract and sustained a calf injury in camp. He was Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 off-ball linebacker out of 57 qualifiers who played at least 50 percent of snaps last season.
■ Panthers: First-year coach Matt Rhule revealed he’s been dealing with a painful cornea issue for weeks, which has left his eye sensitive to light. It has prompted him to wear a black bucket hat and dark glasses, along with the black mask he dons amid the COVID-19 crisis. That’s why “I look like a Storm Trooper or Darth Vader or whatever,” he said.
■ Bengals: Defensive tackle Christian Covington was acquired from Denver for linebacker Austin Calitro. Covington, 26, has appeared in 66 games with 15 starts as a rotational lineman. Calitro, 26, played in 29 games over the past two seasons as a special teams staple.
■ Buccaneers: Kicker Matt Gay and running back Dare Ogunbowale were waived, leaving kicking duties to veteran Ryan Succop and third-down/pass-catching backfield duties to rookie Ke’shawn Vaughn.
■ Cowboys: The NFL conditionally reinstated defensive end Randy Gregory, ending the 27-yearold’s fourth suspension over substance-abuse violations. He won’t be eligible to play until Week 6.
■ Jaguars: Running back Ryquell Armstead was placed on the reserve/covid-19 list for the second time this summer. The 23-year-old battled a groin injury in between.
■ Obit: Greg Montgomery, a former All-pro punter who played nine NFL seasons with Houston, Detroit and Baltimore, died Aug. 23 of undisclosed causes. He was 55.
■ Dolphins: Quarterback Josh Rosen was released, the second time a team has jettisoned the 23-yearold 2018 first-round draft pick in the past 17 months.
Rams: Lirim Hajrullahu was waived, leaving kicking duties to rookie seventh-round draft pick Sam Sloman.