NFL roundup: Vikings put Carlson on IR

The Minnesota Vikings placed tight end John Carlson on injured reserve Saturday with a concussion.

Not only is Carlson out for the season, but it could end his career. He told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune this week that he will discuss the issue with his family during the offseason.

He has sustained at least three concussions since 2011.

"That's something that my wife and I will consider," he said. "After every season it's an evaluation period because of the nature of our business. Players move around, players get cut, coaches get fired, things happen. So in that sense, every year is an evaluation period and this year will be no different. And the concussion part of it will be in that conversation."

Carlson suffered the head injury two weeks ago. He made eight starts this season with Kyle Rudolph out with a foot injury. Carlson finishes the season with 32 catches for 344 yards with one touchdown.

Carlson signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Vikings last year.

---Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez is questionable for Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers with a toe injury.

Gonzalez was limited in practice Saturday. He has been nagged with the injury for several weeks but has played all 14 games this season. He has 71 catches for 740 yards with seven touchdowns.

---The Cleveland Browns placed wide receiver Davone Bess on the reserve/non-football illness list on Saturday, ending his season.

Bess missed practice Thursday and Friday because of a "serious family issue," according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The team listed him as questionable on its injury report Friday.

ESPN Cleveland reported that Bess' absence from practice was not related to any illegal activities.

Bess has 42 catches for 362 yards with two touchdowns this season.

Josh Cooper likely will replace Bess in the lineup. Josh Gordon and Greg Little may also be shifted around.

---The Detroit Lions ruled out tight end Brandon Pettigrew for Sunday's game against the New York Giants due to an ankle injury.

Joseph Fauria will start in Pettigrew's place. Fauria has seven touchdowns this season.

Pettigrew has 41 receptions for 416 yards with two touchdowns.

Also, wide receiver Calvin Johnson (knee), linebacker DeAndrey Levy (foot), and cornerbacks Rashean Mathis (illness) and Chris Houston (toe) are questionable, and reserve cornerback Darius Slay (torn meniscus) is doubtful.

---Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is considered a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Palmer was limited in practice this week with a high left ankle sprain but coach Bruce Arians said he expects him to play.

"He's OK. He's good enough to play," Arians said. "He can move around the pocket as well as he did last week."

Palmer has thrown for 3,689 yards with 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 14 games this season.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is still recovering from a concussion and visited independent neurologists, seeking clearance to play.

---New York Giants safety Will Hill was arrested Friday night in New Jersey on a warrant related to child support, according to the New York Daily News.

Despite the arrest, Hill traveled with the team Saturday to Detroit for Sunday's game against the Lions and is expected to play.

Hill was suspended four games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy earlier this season and last season. He was also arrested in 2011 for driving with a suspended license. Last year, the Newark Star-Ledger reported that Hill's wife told police that he hit her during an argument but no charges were filed.

Hill reportedly has two children with his estranged wife and two with other women.

---The Indianapolis Colts promoted center Thomas Austin from the practice squad to the active roster and waived running back Shaun Draughn on Saturday.

Austin played seven NFL games with the Houston Texans (2011) and Carolina Panthers (2012). He was signed by the Colts on Aug. 1 and assigned to the practice squad on Sept. 1.

Draughn was signed by the Colts last Tuesday. In 20 NFL games with the Kansas City Chiefs (2011-12) and Baltimore Ravens (2013), he has 63 carries for 235 yards with two touchdowns.

---San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke told radio station 95.7 KGMZ on Friday that any perceived tension between him and coach Jim Harbaugh is exaggerated.

"That's all overblown," Baalke said. "It's no different than it's been since Day 1. I think every relationship changes to a certain degree. But it's very professional. He's got a job to do. I've got a job to do. We try to do that together and we do it well together."

Team CEO Jed York said earlier this week that Harbaugh and Baalke often have creative tension over personnel decisions.

"It's not just the two of us," Baalke said. "There's so many people that are involved in decisions and everything else that goes on here. So many people that have been involved in the success of this organization over time. So I think people like to focus on (tension with Harbaugh), but in my opinion it's way overblown."

On Thursday, Harbaugh also downplayed any rift with Baalke by saying their relationship was "good."

Part of what spurred the story was a comment Harbaugh made about his desire to extend kicker Phil Dawson's contract. "Pay the man," he said.

Baalke said the 49ers had "brief discussions" with Dawson's agent as well as wide receiver Anquan Boldin's rep. Both players are potential free agents. Baalke said talks will get more serious after the season and he was hopeful the team would retain them.

---Former San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Kwame Harris was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation Friday for assaulting his ex-boyfriend outside a Menlo Park, Calif., restaurant last year, according to the San Mateo Daily News.

Harris must attend 104 hours of domestic violence counseling and pay $200 to a battered women's shelter and $500 to a domestic violence fund. He is also prohibited from possessing a weapon or ammunition and from harassing the victim, Dimitri Geier.

He is set to begin his jail sentence Feb. 8.

Harris was convicted of misdemeanor violence and assault charges but acquitted of felony domestic violence and assault charges.

Harris and Geier began arguing at a restaurant in August 2012 but it escalated into a fight outside. Harris punched Geier several times in the face and head, causing a compound facial fracture that required surgery and insertion of a metal plate.

Harris claimed Geier started the altercation and he was acting in self-defense.