FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — NFL rookie Trevor Bates, the Westbrook native and former player at the University of Maine, is making a good impression as a member of the New England Patriots practice squad.

Bates joined the practice squad Nov. 8. According the ESPN, he was paid the minimum of $6,900 per week, and this week he got a raise to $18,000 per week.

Bates was as a seventh-round draft choice of the Indianapolis. The 6-foot-1, 247-pound Bates played in one regular-season game for the Colts, mostly on special teams.

VIKINGS: Adrian Peterson has always called himself a quick healer. Now he says he’s ready to come back from his latest knee surgery even sooner than he originally thought.

Peterson told Dash Radio on Friday that he plans to return to the Minnesota Vikings backfield on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. His surprise announcement comes four days after he reiterated that he was targeting the game against Green Bay on Dec. 24 as his first game back after having surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee.

“It really boils down to how I feel,” Peterson told the internet radio station, of which he is an investor. What it really came down to me in my heart knowing, especially after these past two days, that I can go out there and be productive.”

Peterson said he spoke to Coach Mike Zimmer, head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman and his wife as he contemplated making the return one week sooner than he initially expected.

Panthers: Coach Ron Rivera says Cam Newton is “good to go” Monday night against Washington although he’s listed as questionable on the injury report with a right shoulder injury.

“He moved around pretty well out there in practice,” Rivera said Saturday.

Chiefs: Kansas City placed veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson on injured reserve Saturday after he ruptured his Achilles tendon last week, and elevated defensive lineman David King from the practice squad.