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So why was Vikings running back Adrian Peterson downgraded to questionable with an illness on Saturday? According to the FOX broadcast, Peterson swallowed chewing tobacco on a bumpy flight from Minnesota to Detroit.

Peterson eventually relinquished the tobacco (that’s as delicate as I can be about it).

Multiple sources in position to know whether the account is accurate expressed surprise. One source thought Peterson became sick due to something he ate. (Which, technically, would be accurate.) Likewise, a team source wasn’t aware of the tobacco explanation.

Look for Peterson to be asked about it during his post-game press conference. And to probably not emerge from the experience with a Mail Pouch endorsement deal.