Redskins add All-Pro Peterson to thin backfield
The Washington Redskins signed four-time AllPro running back Adrian Peterson.
The team announced the deal Monday after meeting with Peterson. Jamaal Charles and Orleans Darkwa also visited the Redskins the past two days after several injuries at the position, with the team opting to sign Peterson and De’Veon Smith.
Peterson, 33, joins his fourth team as he enters his 12th NFL season. The 2012 MVP is 12th all-time in rushing with 12,276 yards and needs 37 more yards to pass Jim Brown.
The former Minnesota Vikings star split last season between Arizona and New Orleans, playing six games for the Cardinals and four for the Saints and finishing with 529 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Peterson is not guaranteed the starting job with Washington. A slimmeddown Rob Kelly is likely to remain the Redskins top running back even though Peterson is joining the team to bolster its decimated stable of runners.
“We’re not looking for a starter right now,” coach Jay Gruden said. “We’ve got Rob in-house, obviously Chris Thompson, Kapri Bibbs has done a good job. So we’ve got four backs right there.”
Browns
Cleveland has had a plan at quarterback all offseason, and they’re not about to change it late in the preseason. Coach Hue Jackson sent the message loud and clear Monday after the 17th practice of training camp, which will break Tuesday with two preseason games remaining. Although Tyrod Taylor has taken all of the first-team snaps throughout camp, Jackson was asked whether he’ll give rookie No. 1 overall draft pick Baker Mayfield any first-team repetitions in camp. Jackson didn’t just say no. He said no five times. “No, no, no, no, no,” Jackson replied. “Everybody’s asked me that a ton of times. Why? I’m going to tell you the reason why. We are learning a new system, and I think Tyrod needs every rep that he can get with the ones.”
Bills
Rookie quarterback Josh Allen is getting his chance to secure the starting job in Buffalo’s preseason game Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Allen will make his first start of the preseason in a home game against the Bengals. The move comes after Allen worked with the first-string offense in practice earlier in the day and while he has been involved in an offseason-long three-way competition for the starting job the Bills top draft pick is expected to be given every opportunity to succeed.
Rams
Los Angeles continued to lock in key pieces of their offense, agreeing to terms with right tackle Rob Havenstein on a four-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Havenstein, a second-round draft pick from Wisconsin in 2015, has a salary-cap number of $1.26 million this season, the last year of his rookie contract. “We’re excited to extend Rob with the Rams for another four seasons,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “He’s been a reliable member of our offensive line and maintaining consistency among that unit is important as we continue to grow offensively.”
Vikings
RookieDaniel Carlson will be the third kicker in three seasons. Minnesota released veteran Kai Forbath Monday, two days after he missed a41-yard field goal attempt off the right post in a preseason loss against Jacksonville. Carlson said the pressure should help his dive into the pressure-packed NFL. “That’s one of the things competition really helps,” Carlson said. “Every kick is a pressure kick when your job is on the line.”