NFC Notes: Peterson, Bush, Unger, Williams

As we learned last week, the NFLPA filed a grievance for an expedited Adrian Peterson hearing, which will occur on Monday. As Albert Breer of NFL.com details out (in a series of Twitter links), Peterson could return to game action as early as next Sunday. In one possible scenario, Peterson could win the grievance on Monday, be immediately suspended by the league, appeal the suspension, and play while the appeal process takes place. In the event that the Vikings running back is disciplined on Monday, a key term will be “time served,” notes Breer. Under the league’s new domestic violence policy, a first-time offender receives a six-game ban. Peterson has missed nine games while on the commissioner’s exempt list, so we’ll have to see how the NFL factors in those absences when levying a suspension. Here’s more from the NFC, including some injury updates on several key players:

  • Saints safety Rafael Bush suffered a fractured tibia during today’s loss against the Bengals, and will be sidelined for the forseeable future, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. New Orleans already lost one key defensive back earlier this season, when free agent signee Jairus Byrd was placed on injured reserve after injuring his knee. As Triplett notes, the Saints will look to recent addition Jamarca Sanford and rookie Marcus Ball to step in for Bush.
  • The Seahawks might need to replace a key member along their offensive line, as head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, that center Max Unger suffered a high ankle sprain during today’s game. Carroll didn’t estimate how much time Unger would miss, but such injuries usually involve a four-to-six-week recovery period. Second-year center Patrick Lewis is Unger’s direct backup.
  • Washington tackle Trent Williams will undergo an MRI tomorrow, but the early word is that he sprained his MCL, per John Keim of ESPN.com. Williams luckily escaped ACL damage, but it’s still conceivable that he’ll miss some game action.

NFL Notes: Saints, Redskins, Vikings

Despite cutting ties with a handful of veterans earlier this offseason, the Saints hover just $3MM under the salary cap with free agent tight end Jimmy Graham‘s future still uncertain. Accordingly, Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune lists a handful of veterans who could be released in order to create more room (cap figure in parentheses): Brodrick Bunkley ($6.1MM), Lance Moore ($5.1MM), Pierre Thomas ($2.9MM), Darren Sproles ($4.25MM) and Patrick Robinson ($2.8MM).

In other NFC notes:

    • The Redskins “must devote a significant of attention and efforts to improving the offensive line,” says Mike Jones of the Washington Post. The coach and scheme will not change, and eight of the team’s top nine linemen are under contract, but personnel upgrades are needed. Aside from stalwart left tackle Trent Williams, left guard Kory Lichtensteiger (who could be tried at center) seems like the only 2013 starter whose job is safe. Whether or not the team intends to release center Will Montgomery, right guard Chris Chester and/or right tackle Tyler Polumbus is uncertain, but any of the three could be replaced via free agency or draft.
    • Vikings new head coach Mike Zimmer plans to implement a more aggressive defensive scheme, meaning the team’s scouting staff will take a longer look at prospects whose skill sets might not have fit with Leslie Frazier’s more conservative cover-2 system, writes ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling.
    • Panthers free agent Captain Munnerlyn says his agent will meet with team officials at the Combine next week, according to Charlotte Observer beat reporter Joe Person (via Twitter).
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