A source close to the situation told ESPN's Josina Anderson on Saturday afternoon that Peterson is likely to play. "I don't think it will change," the source said.

"There's no doubt he's going to play," the source added. "It's not going to happen where Adrian Peterson is not going to suit up for that game."

Before he learned of his son’s death, Peterson said he would play on Sunday.

The boy died Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D., from an alleged aggravated assault. The child had been in critical condition in a hospital with severe head injuries since Wednesday. Joseph Patterson, 27, was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Football is something I will always fall back on," Peterson said on Friday before learning of his son’s death. "It gets me through tough times. Just being around the guys in here, that's what I need in my life, guys supporting me. ... Things that I go through, I've said a thousand times, it helps me play this game to a different level. I'm able to kind of release a lot of my stress through this sport, so that's what I plan on doing."

Peterson, who thanked NFL players for their “tweets, phone calls and text messages” on his Twitter account (@AdrianPeterson) Friday, posted two tweets Saturday morning related to photographs of his deceased son and another son:

“My son Adrian Jr. who lives w/me is healthy. Appreciate the concern. We respectfully ask to stop tweeting his pics," Peterson tweeted.

"We are currently not posting photos of my son who passed away. Thank u for your understanding.”


REPORT: VICK OUT VS. BUCS


Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will sit out Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers with a hamstring injury, ESPN reported on Saturday, citing an NFL source.

Second-year player Nick Foles is expected to make his first start of the season. Rookie Matt Barkley, who was inactive for the first five games, will back up Foles.

Vick was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report after participating fully in practice Friday, but coach Chip Kelly decided not to take a chance on re-injury and creating a potentially chronic injury issue.

Vick hasn't thrown the ball well in Chip Kelly's offense, completing 71 of 132 passes (53.8 percent) for five touchdowns and two interceptions, but he has excelled as a runner (307 rushing yards on 33 attempts and two touchdowns). After being a turnover machine the past two years, Vick has a reasonable four through five games (two picks and two lost fumbles).

Health always seems to be an issue with Vick, who played in only 23 of 32 games in 2011 and ’12.


GRONK UNLIKELY TO PLAY


Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski is listed as questionable but is not expected to play Sunday against New Orleans, according to an ESPN report.

Reports emerged on Friday that Gronkowski has yet to be cleared to play by Dr. James Andrews, who is acting as an independent physician on the case and is charged with determining whether Gronkowski is ready to play. Dr. Jesse Jupiter, who performed the latest forearm surgery on Gronkowski, also had not cleared the tight end, according to reports.

That report was followed by the ESPN story that Gronkowski probably won’t play against the Saints. If he doesn’t, it will be six games and counting to open the season. Gronkowski is recovering from a difficult offseason in which he had a series of forearm operations and back surgery.

Gronkowski fully particpiated in practice this week, and there has been a lot of confusion about his case. Some observers say he looks ready to play in practice. Early in the week, reports surfaced that he was expected to make his season debut this week. By the end of the week, that optimisim had fizzled.

Asked Thursday what he and doctors need to see for him to return to the field, Gronkowski  said, "(I'm) really just taking it each day at a time and just trying to improve each day at a time. And that's all."


BANKS CLEARED TO PLAY


The NFL announced Saturday night that Buccaneers cornerback Johnthan Banks, the third Bucs player diagnosed with MRSA, has been cleared to play Sunday against the Eagles at Tampa.

The league statement said the NFL worked with the NFLPA to hire a specialist who "met with the team, supervised the inspection of the facilities, conducted medical examinations and agrees with the team medical staff that Mr. Banks does not pose a risk of transmission to other players."

The NFL statement also said the specialist met with the Eagles.

Kicker Lawrence Tynes and guard Carl Nicks were diagnosed with MRSA, the severe staph infection resistant to most antibiotics, in August. Nicks, who didn't play until Week 3, likely will sit out Sunday because of a recurrence of MRSA. ESPN reported that Banks could play Sunday.

The NFLPA had questioned whether the game should be played at Raymond James Stadium because of concerns over the risk of transmission of the infection.


BROWNS PLACE HOYER ON IR


The Browns have placed quarterback Brian Hoyer on injured reserve with a torn knee ligament, officially ending his season.

Hoyer led Cleveland to two wins in his first two starts. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of Cleveland's victory over Buffalo on Oct. 3. Hoyer was sliding at the end of a run when his cleat got caught in the turf as he hit the ground. Hoyer will undergo surgery next Friday.

The Browns waited to put Hoyer on IR as they considered signing another quarterback.

The club instead signed rookie wide receiver Charles Johnson off Green Bay's practice squad. The Packers drafted him in the seventh round in April. He played in Green Bay's final two exhibition games.

Contributors: Carl Moritz, The Associated Press