The Sports Xchange

To add injury to the insult of a 44-26 drubbing at the hands of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Houston Texans learned that running back Arian Foster has a torn Achilles tendon, according to NFL Network.

Foster was carted off the field in the fourth quarter with an injury that occurred with no contact. He finished the game with 18 carries for 59 yards, five catches for 66 yards, and two touchdowns.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien didn’t have an update on his star running back immediately after the game, but the Texans confirmed he hurt his Achilles tendon and Ian Rapoport reported the tear, per a source. San Diego Chargers team physician David M. Chao said via Twitter the rupture was evident on video replays.

Foster, who missed significant time earlier this season with a groin injury, has 63 carries for 164 yards, 22 receptions for 227 yards this season. He will miss the remainder of the season.

—Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson played in Sunday’s 28-19 victory at Detroit and corrected a FOX report earlier in the day that he was listed as questionable because he swallowed chewing tobacco.

Peterson was listed as probable with a finger injury until Saturday night, when he was downgraded to questionable due to illness. Peterson said he vomited after eating shrimp.

FOX broadcaster Chris Myers said Peterson told him he was ill because he swallowed juice from chewing tobacco on a rough landing in Detroit.

Peterson denied saying anything about tobacco to Myers during Sunday’s postgame while standing in front of reporters with a good-sized wad of tobacco in his cheek.

—The Pittsburgh Steelers were without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the fourth consecutive game when they faced the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Landry Jones made his first regular-season NFL start, stepping in for backup quarterback Michael Vick (hamstring) who joined Roethlisberger on the inactive list for Sunday’s game.

Jones threw a pair of interceptions and also lost a fumble when he was sacked, and Pittsburgh found the end zone just once in the 23-13 loss to the Chiefs.

Roethlisberger suffered a sprained left knee ligament and bone bruise on Sept. 27. Wide receiver and former college quarterback Tyler Murphy was added to the 53-man roster from Pittsburgh’s practice squad on Saturday.

The Chiefs were without starters wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (concussion), defensive end Mike DeVito (concussion) and rookie inside linebacker Ramik Wilson (knee/ankle).

—New York Giants defensive end Damontre Moore and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant were inactive for Sunday’s NFC East game at MetLife Stadium.

Moore, who leads the Giants with three sacks, was chided by coach Tom Coughlin last week when he body slammed Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford to the ground well after he had released the ball on third down play that extended a Philadelphia driver.

Bryant is six weeks removed from foot surgery and had a goal of returning this week despite limited participation in practice. Bryant broke his right foot Sept. 13 against the Giants. Guard Ronald Leary and quarterback Kellen Moore, third on the depth chart behind Brandon Weeden and new starter Matt Cassell, were also inactive.

—Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett missed the team charter to Miami for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.

According to multiple reports, Mallett took a commercial flight later Saturday. Mallett is the backup to Brian Hoyer for Sunday’s game.

During training camp, Mallett missed a practice — two days after Texans coach Bill O’Brien named Brian Hoyer the Week 1 starting quarterback. Mallett said he overslept.

After Hoyer struggled in Week 1, Mallett entered later in the game and became the starter in Week 2.

Mallett went 1-3 as the starter and in the Texans’ Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts, O’Brien switched back to Hoyer in the second quarter when Mallett left the game for what he thought would be just one play after a rough hit.

Mallett drew heavy scrutiny and criticism as cameras captured him standing apart from his teammates with his arms crossed while wearing an angry expression on his face.