SAINTS, KAMARA AGREE ON ACCORD

Saints running back Alvin Kamara has agreed to a five-year extension, the club announced Saturday.

A person familiar with the contract says it is worth up to $75 million on paper, but that the final season includes a large non-guaranteed payment which effectively limits the team’s obligation to $50 million from 2021 to 2024.

The $50 million for four years puts the deal on par with the contract running back Derrick Henry signed with Tennessee in July.

A thirdround draft choice out of Tennessee and offensive rookie of the year in 2017, Kamara is one of only two players, along with Atlanta receiver Julio Jones, to surpass 1,300 yards from scrimmage in each of the past three seasons.

Kamara was due to become a restricted free agent after this season and had sat out several training camp practices while the club acknowledged they were trying to negotiate an extension.

But he returned to practice in the middle of last week and continued to take part in Week 1 preparations for today’s game against Tampa Bay.

Kamara gained 1,330 yards from scrimmage last season with five touchdowns rushing and one receiving despite missing two games with ankle and knee injuries that continued to bother him much of the season.

Vikings’ Cook extended

Almost nine years to the day after they signed Adrian Peterson to a seven-year deal on the eve of season opener, the Vikings made his successor one of the league’s highest-paid running backs.

The Vikings agreed to a five-year, $63 million deal with Dalvin Cook, ending a protracted (and sometimes tense) set of negotiations the day before their regular season begins and ensuring the running back will spend the rest of his prime in Minnesota.

The team entered Saturday with just under $1 million of cap space, according to NFLPA records, but sources told the Star Tribune, the Vikings converted $6 million of linebacker Eric

Kendricks’ $7.15 million base salary to a signing bonus to help fit Cook’s deal under the cap this season.

Cook’s average annual salary of $12.6 million makes him the sixth highest-paid running back in the league, putting him just ahead of Henry’s new $12.5 million average, but behind Kamara.

Cook got a total of $28 million guaranteed with a $15.5 million signing bonus — the largest in Vikings history for a non-quarterback, surpassing the $15 million the team gave Stefon Diggs in 2018. Cook’s bonus also is larger than any given to a running back in a recent deal other than the $21.5 million bonus the Panthers gave Christian Mccaffrey earlier this year.

Notable

The 49ers placed starting receiver Deebo Samuel on injured reserve. The move means Samuel will miss at least the first three games of the season. Samuel broke his foot during informal offseason training with teammates in June. Samuel caught 57 passes for 802 yards and three TDS last season and also made big contributions in the running game. He had 14 carries for 159 yards and three scores.

The Jets signed quarterback Mike White from the practice squad to serve as Sam Darnold’s backup in the season opener at Buffalo. The team also promoted wide receiver

Josh Malone and running back Josh Adams from the practice squad. White will be Darnold’s backup because

Joe Flacco was ruled out for the game as he continues to recover from neck surgery.

The Jaguars promoted running back Nathan Cottrell and tight end Ben Ellefson from the practice squad to the active roster.

The Lions elevated guard Kenny Wiggins and running back Jonathan Williams from the practice squad. The Lions are without tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot), safety C.J. Moore (hamstring) and tight end Hunter Bryant (hamstring), all of whom have been ruled out for today’s game. Wide receiver

Kenny Golladay (hamstring) is doubtful.

The Titans will be without starting cornerback

Adoree’ Jackson (knee) and outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. on Monday night when they visit Denver for their season opener.

Alvin Kamara