Cardinals Release RB Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson‘s time in Arizona has come to a close. The Cardinals released CJ2K in order to make room for the newly-acquired Adrian Peterson. 
[RELATED: Cardinals Acquire Adrian Peterson From Saints]
The 31-year-old rushed for 814 yards and three touchdowns before giving way to David Johnson as the club’s starting running back in 2015. He missed the bulk of 2016, but the team circled back to him again this year when D. Johnson suffered a wrist injury. This time around, things didn’t work out quite as well. The older Johnson had 114 yards off of 45 carries, averaging out to 2.5 yards per attempt.
Johnson has six 1,000-yard seasons (including a 2,000-yard campaign) and three Pro Bowl nods on his resume, but those days are likely behind him. If he can’t find a team willing to give him consistent playing time, it’s possible that he could just hang ’em up.
“I need to be involved,” the speedster said in June. “At this point in my career, I don’t want to sit on the sideline. I want to get in the game.”
NFL May Make Players Stand For Anthem
The NFL may institute a rule change that will mandate players to stand for the national anthem, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Commissioner Roger Goodell issued the following letter to team executives and presidents (Facebook link, from Schefter): 
“We live in a country that can feel very divided. Sports, and especially the NFL, brings people together and lets them set aside those divisions, at least for a few hours. The current dispute over the National Anthem is threatening to erode the unifying power of our game, and is now dividing us, and our players, from many fans across the country.
I’m very proud of our players and owners who have done the hard work over the past year to listen, understand and attempt to address the underlying issues within their communities. At our September committee meetings, we heard directly from several players about why these issues are so important to them and how we can support their work. And last week, we met with the leadership of the NFLPA and more players to advance the dialogue.
Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the National Anthem. It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us. We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the Anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues. We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.
Building on many discussions with clubs and players, we have worked to develop a plan that we will review with you at next week’s League meeting. This would include such elements as an in-season platform to promote the work of our players on these core issues, and that will help to promote positive change in our country. We want to ensure that any work at the League level is consistent with the work that each club is doing in its own community, and that we dedicate a platform that can enable these initiatives to succeed. Additionally, we will continue the unprecedented dialogue with our players.
I expect and look forward to a full and open discussion of these issues when we meet next week in New York. Everyone involved in the game needs to come together on a path forward to continue to be a force for good within our communities, protect the game, and preserve our relationship with fans throughout the country. The NFL is at its best when we ourselves are unified. In that spirit, let’s resolve that next week we will meet this challenge in a unified and positive way.”
Bears Place Willie Young On IR
The Bears have officially placed outside linebacker Willie Young on injured reserve. This was the expected move after Young suffered a torn triceps muscle. 
Young, 32, has been a key cog of the Bears’ defense since joining the team in 2014. He has made 50 appearances for Chicago and has been an absolute sack machine with 26 in total.
Without him, the Bears will be extra reliant on Pernell McPhee, Leonard Floyd, and Sam Acho for edge pressure. They may also look to the free agent market for reinforcements. Although he is strictly a situational pass rusher at this point, someone like Dwight Freeney could be of interest to Chicago.
Young inked a lucrative extension with the Bears last year and is under contract with the team through the 2018 season. His recovery will not be fun, but he has been here before. Young tore one of his Achilles’ tendons late in the 2014 season and bounced back to play a complete and successful campaign in 2015. In that 2015 season, Young had 6.5 sacks and 30 tackles.
Lions To Sign DE Datone Jones
Former Packers defensive end Datone Jones is signing with the Lions, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Jones spent the summer with the Vikings, so he’s getting a good tour of the NFC North. 
Jones joined Minnesota in the spring with the hope that he would thrive in a 4-3 defense. That didn’t quite happen and health issues in late August left him on the outs.
The 27-year-old will slot in behind starting defensive ends Ezekiel Ansah and Anthony Zettel. He might not be able to play up to the expectations laid out for him when he was a first-round draft pick, but he could be a worthwhile rotational piece for Detroit.
George Johnson, Jeremiah Valoaga, and Cornelius Washington are also on the roster for DE support.
Saints Trade Adrian Peterson To Cardinals
The Saints have traded Adrian Peterson to the Cardinals, as first reported by Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The two sides have since confirmed the swap via press release. The Saints will receive a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Peterson has struggled mightily in New Orleans, averaging just three yards per carry. The Cardinals are hoping that a change of scenery will help him get back to his old form. Perhaps the Cardinals are also banking on Peterson having fresh legs. He had only 27 rushing attempts through four games as Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara led New Orleans’ rushing attack. He’ll also have the benefit of two bye weeks – one with the Saints in Week 5 and one with the Cardinals in Week 8.
The Cardinals have been on the lookout for running back help ever since losing David Johnson to injury. Without one of the game’s most electrifying tailbacks, the Cardinals have been unable to get anything going on the ground.
Peterson ostensibly will slot in as the Cardinals’ top running back. Kerwynn Williams, Andre Ellington, Elijhaa Penny, and D.J. Foster will be there in support, but Chris Johnson will not be after receiving a pink slip on Tuesday.
From the get-go, Peterson seemed a suspect fit for the Saints. Despite his Hall of Fame credentials, Peterson did not look to be on the same level as Kamara or Ingram. When he wasn’t getting the playing time he expected, he immediately lashed out at head coach Sean Payton and went public with his displeasure. We heard in mid-September that the Saints didn’t have any intention of trading or releasing Peterson. Weeks later, they’ve had a change of heart.
Initially, when he signed his two-year, $7MM deal with New Orleans, Peterson insisted that he would not make a fuss over his workload.
“I don’t need all those carries to be my best,” Peterson said in the offseason. “I don’t think I became a great player by having to have 20 or 30 carries to get 200 yards. If they feed it to me, hey, I’m going to eat. Whenever I get opportunities, I’ll take advantage of them.”
Ravens Re-Sign RB Bobby Rainey
The Ravens have re-signed running back Bobby Rainey, according to a team announcement. To make room, the Ravens have cut offensive tackle Dieugot Joseph. 
Rainey was among the Ravens’ final cuts before roster cutdowns in early September. The veteran, who turns 30 next week, was something of a surprise cut since he drew positive reviews from coaches throughout the summer. He’s back in the fold now, however, and it helps that he knows the playbook. He’ll help to provide depth at running back while Terrance West deals with an injured calf.
Rainey’s best pro seasons came with the Bucs in 2013 and 2014 when he rushed for more than 400 yards in each year.
Josh Gordon Admits To Hard Drug Use
Josh Gordon is looking to get clean from more than just marijuana. In a new mini-documentary, the Browns wide receiver opened up about his complete history of substance abuse. 
Previously, it was believed that Gordon’s current ban was for marijuana use. Fans were disappointed when he was denied reinstatement this spring, but the commissioner’s decision makes more sense upon learning the full scope of Gordon’s issues.
“I’ve used alcohol on many, many occasions, Xanax on many occasions, cocaine several occasions, marijuana most of my life, codeine, cough syrup, methazine is very prevalent where I’m from,” Gordon admits (transcript via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). “It’s what I grew up using.”
Gordon has yet to reapply for reinstatement, but a league source tells Cabot that he plans to file paperwork in conjunction with the release of the interview. Presumably, he’ll have to demonstrate that he has been on the straight and narrow for a significant period of time in order to be allowed back into the NFL. Even then, Gordon will likely have to serve a four-game ban first.
Hopefully, Gordon is ready to put his demons behind him for good.
“I think it might be therapeutic for me to talk about it,” Gordon says in the doc. “I’m in the position I’m in now and I’m grateful for it. I’m able to give this message and this opportunity for you to learn from my mistakes and for me to tell them my story.”
Giants’ Brandon Marshall Done For Season
Giants wide receiver Brandon Marshall announced on Instagram that he will have season-ending ankle surgery. This marks yet another devastating setback for the 0-5 Giants. 
In Week 5, the Giants lost four receivers to injury and three of them – Odell Beckham Jr., Dwayne Harris, and Marshall – for the season. Initially, the feeling was that Marshall could return after missing a handful of games, but those hopes have been dashed.
Marshall, who joined the team this offseason, recently found his groove, but he might have played his last game for Big Blue on Sunday. He is under contract through 2018 thanks to his two-year, $12MM deal, but he is afforded little security beyond this season.
At the age of 33, he was eager to prove that he could still produce at a high level. He struggled mightily in the Jets’ offensive quagmire in 2016, but he reeled in 109 catches for 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns in the previous season.
Marshall’s season ends with 18 catches for 154 yards in five games, including 14 receptions for 112 yards combined in Weeks 3 and 4.
Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/17
Monday’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Andrew Wylie
- Released: Travis Averill
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Oni Omoile, RB Brandon Wilds
- Released: RB Jhurrell Pressley
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Alex Carter
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Darius Powe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Pat O’Connor
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/17
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted to active roster: LB Isaiah Irving
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR: FB Marquez Williams
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted to active roster: LB Darnell Sankey
- Placed on IR: WR Krishawn Hogan
New York Giants
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (story), WR Dwayne Harris (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed off waivers: S Dexter McCoil
- Waived: DB Lorenzo Jerome