ying 20-strikeout game in May.He has helped the Nationals work with a rotation that has been weakened by injuries to Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross along with the inconsistent p

Watching Adrian Peterson hop ... and hop ... and hop ... and hop his way through the Minnesota Vikings new stadium, one couldnt help but wonder: How badly might one of the NFLs premier running backs be injured? And: Isnt there a better way to get a hurt player to the locker room?The answer to that first question could be clearer Monday, when Peterson is scheduled for an MRI exam on his right knee, which gave way at the end of a run in the third quarter of Minnesotas 17-14 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.After the game Sunday night, Peterson was wearing a brace on his right leg and using crutches.He might miss a week, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. I dont know if he will or not.Peterson was the 2012 league MVP and is a three-time league rushing leader. So given that the Vikings already lost starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the season, losing Peterson for any significant amount of time could really undermine what Zimmer is developing on the defensive side of the ball.It capped a rough day for running backs: Tampa Bays Doug Martin, Miamis Arian Foster, San Diegos Danny Woodhead, Carolinas Jonathan Stewart and Detroits Ameer Abdullah all got injured.In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFL seasons second Sunday:PATS NEED A SUB FOR THE SUB: Rookie QB Jacoby Brissetts first NFL start could come this week, when he might be called upon to sub for the suspended Tom Bradys sub, the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, in the New England Patriots game Thursday against the Houston Texans and old friend Bill OBrien. Brissett, a third-round draft pick, played in New Englands 31-24 win against Miami on Sunday after Garoppolos right shoulder got hurt when he was slammed to the ground by linebacker Kiko Alonso.SEAHAWKS STUMBLES: Tough to decide which is more troubling about Seattles 1-1 start -- the zero turnovers created by its defense or the sole touchdown produced by Russell Wilson and the offense. A 9-3 loss to the punchless Los Angeles Rams is not a good look. Consider: The Rams have fewer touchdowns (zero) than victories (one). And yet No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff remains on the bench while Case Keenum plays QB for Jeff Fisher.DAKS DEAL: Used to be that as Tony Romo dealt with injury after injury, the Dallas Cowboys were destined to lose game after game. Maybe its different now. Dak Prescott became the teams first rookie QB to win a start in 12 years when he led Dallas past the imploding Washington Redskins 27-23. Prescott completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards, he ran for a TD and, perhaps of most significance, he has yet to have a turnover in two games. Hes very composed. Hes very confident in himself, teammate Alfred Morris said. Hes a natural leader, so I love that about him.0-2 AND LOOKING BAD: There are seven teams that are 0-2 -- Chicago could join them with a loss against Philadelphia on Monday night -- and several look as if theres little hope of a turnaround. Jacksonville, Buffalo and Cleveland, for example. Most surprising club in that category? Maybe the Redskins, who not only have to be concerned about QB Kirk Cousins -- only one TD pass and three interceptions so far, including an end-zone pick on third-and-goal at the 6 on Sunday -- but also some internal finger-pointing, including defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois wondering aloud about why the defense never makes adjustments.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFLZach Collins Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Anfernee Simons Jersey .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Gary-Trent-Jr-Blazers-Jersey/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Clyde Drexler Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Bill Walton Blazers Jersey . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup.PITTSBURGH -- Dusty Baker couldnt help but smile as he watched his players pour champagne and beer on each other.The Washington Nationals clinched their third National League East title in five years on Saturday night. They beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 and watched on TV in the clubhouse as the New York Mets were eliminated from the division race 20 minutes later with a 10-8 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.Then the party started.Let the animals run wild, and they are certainly running wild tonight, said Baker, the Nationals first-year manager. I love it. Look at them. These are the wildest Ive ever seen.The Nationals were seemingly not only celebrating a division title but releasing pent-up frustration that remained from a disappointing 2015 season.The Nationals were considered by many to be World Series favorites after signing right-hander Max Scherzer to a seven-year, $210-million contract in free agency the previous winter. They not only missed the playoffs, but then-closer Jonathan Papelbon choked right fielder Bryce Harper during a late-season dugout argument.We were all (upset), Scherzer said. Because we had a team we knew was capable of winning and winning in the postseason, winning in October. I believe we have that team again.Manager Matt Williams was fired at the end of last season and replaced by Baker, who had 20 years of experience managing the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.Out of the game for two years after being fired by the Reds following the 2013 season, the 67-year-old Baker has been questioned at times for his handling of the pitching staff. But he has provided a steady hand.This is the first step in a four-step process, Baker said We want to do this three more times, then hopefully be the world champions. Were not done yet.The Nationals have never reached the World Series during the franchises 47-year history that began in 1969 as the Montreal Expos before the team relocatted to Washington in 2005.ddddddddddddExcept for a four-day stretch in May, the Nationals were on top of the division all season. They took the lead for good May 13 then built a double-digit advantage in September despite a down year from Harper, who is hitting just .243 with 24 home runs in 143 games after winning the NL MVP a year ago when he batted .330 with an NL-leading 42 homers.However, second baseman Daniel Murphy, who helped the Mets reach the World Series last year, has made a major impact after being signed as a free agent in the offseason. Though sidelined by a strained glut muscle in recent days, he is hitting .347 with a league-best 47 doubles and 25 home runs in 141 games.Rookie Trea Turner also has made a major impact since becoming a lineup fixture in August, hitting .336 with 12 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 65 games while converting from shortstop to center fielder.Scherzer has been stellar as the ace of the pitching staff. He is 18-7 with a 2.82 ERA, a league-leading 267 strikeouts and a record-tying 20-strikeout game in May.He has helped the Nationals work with a rotation that has been weakened by injuries to Stephen Strasburg and Joe Ross along with the inconsistent performance of left-hander Gio Gonzalez.The Nationals also had to trade for Pittsburgh Pirates closer Mark Melancon on July 30 after Papelbon faltered and was eventually released. Melancon converted his first 12 save opportunities before blowing one Friday night at Pittsburgh.It was more of a team effort, Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth said. It was everybody. Everybody contributed. You can look at everybody on the team and say that guys the reason why were here.Thats what good teams are about. Weve got our potential MVP candidate. Weve got our potential Cy Young award winner. But everybodys contributed. ' ' '