Peterson, who signed a two-year deal worth $7 million with New Orleans in April after being released by Minnesota, finished with just 18 yards on six carries. While he was expecting a warm welcome in his return to Minneapolis, he received more boos than applause.
After releasing Peterson, the Vikings drafted running back Dalvin Cook in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Cook earned the start Monday but failed to impress early against the Saints’ makeshift defense. Cook’s first seven touches totaled just 11 yards but he finished with a total of 127 rushing yards, breaking Peterson’s rookie record for yardage in a season opener.
Week 1 of the NFL season needed that game, and so did the Broncos and Chargers. They needed to believe they can be complete enough to upend the Chiefs and Raiders.
Foster returned to the field in full uniform early in the second quarter and did some tests with the team’s trainers on the sideline. Although Foster admitted to lobbying to return to the game, he said the determination was made to not rush him back for fear of making it worse.
After halftime, Foster returned to the sideline and remained in uniform, though he removed his shoulder pads.
“I took a header, boy,” Flores, who sustained a fractured C2 vertebra, a broken nose and 13 stitches above his left eye, told ESPN.com. “I’m not through yet, though.”
Flores said the fall occurred as he was attempting to leave the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. The Raiders, invited by Dallas, watched the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor fight in a suite. After the bout, as Flores and several players and team employees were leaving the room, Flores’ feet caught on a rug. He was carrying a bag on his shoulder that came forward and shifted his weight, forcing the fall onto his face.
“I looked scary,” Flores said with a laugh. “I played 10 years of professional football and four years in college before that, and I never had six stitches. Now this.”
