Texans’ Arian Foster to miss Browns game because of groin injury

Houston running back Arian Foster will miss Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns because of a groin injury.

Foster missed practice this week with the injury and was listed as questionable on Friday before the Texans announced that he was out on Saturday.

Foster, who is second in the NFL with 822 yards rushing, was injured Nov. 2 against the Eagles before Houston’s bye week. This will be the second game he’s missed this season after sitting out in Week 3 with a hamstring injury.

With Foster out, rookie Alfred Blue will start in what will be quarterback Ryan Mallett’s first career start after Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched during the bye week.

Blue, a sixth-round draft pick, has appeared in each game this season and has 234 yards rushing.

Peterson case becomes more contentious

Potential discipline for Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson under the NFL personal conduct policy has become more complicated and contentious.

The league said that Peterson declined to meet about his case Friday, so on Saturday it proceeded with a review without him. The NFL also said it was unwilling to postpone the hearing beyond this week, citing the NFL Players Assn.’s stated desire to resolve the situation promptly.

Peterson has been on paid leave for two months. He pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanor reckless assault in Texas for hitting his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch.

Etc.

The San Francisco placed rookie nickel cornerback and top draft pick Jimmie Ward on injured reserve because of a foot injury. ... The Kansas City Chiefs and Allen Bailey agreed to a four-year, $25-million contract extension that could keep the defensive end playing in Kansas City through the 2018 season. ... The New York Giants placed running back Peyton Hillis on injured reserve because of a concussion.