Washington released veteran running back Adrian Peterson on Friday, a stunning move by first-year coach Ron Rivera in the name of getting younger.
Rivera called Peterson early in the morning asking him to come to the practice facility, then delivered the news the team was moving on from the 35-year-old star.
The move came less than 36 hours before NFL rosters must be trimmed to the 53-man limit and nine days before the start of the regular season.
"It's not about what he hasn't done or anything like that, but it's about what this group of backs has shown us, especially in the way that the offense has headed," Rivera said. "Adrian is a true pro. I was fortunate to just be with him this summer."
Peterson played his first 10 NFL seasons with the Vikings and the past two with Washington, rushing for 1,940 yards and 12 touchdowns in the fourth stop of a career that will likely end in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He originally signed in the summer of 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, and the backfield has a decidedly young look. Replacing them will be a committee approach among rookies Antonio Gibson and Bryce Love and free-agent additions Peyton Barber and J.D. McKissic.
New leg up for Rams
Rookie kicker Sam Sloman won the Los Angeles Rams' three-way competition to replace Greg Zuerlein, who signed with Dallas. Sloman, a seventh-round pick, joined the Rams out of Miami of Ohio, the alma mater of Los Angeles coach Sean McVay. He beat out CFL veteran Lirim Hajrullahu and Kentucky product Austin MacGinnis, who were released Friday.
