NFL notebook: Rams lose K Zuerlein to back injury

Los Angeles Rams Pro Bowl kicker Greg Zuerlein underwent season-ending back surgery on Thursday and was placed on injured reserve by the team.

Zuerlein’s surgery is to repair a herniated disk and his recovery period is slated to be approximately 12 weeks.

Zuerlein, who has an NFL-leading 158 points, was named to his first Pro Bowl on Tuesday. He was just nine points away from breaking the NFL record for points by a kicker, held by San Francisco’s David Akers (166 in 2011).

He has connected on 38 of 40 field-goal attempts this season. Rams coach Sean McVay said Zuerlein has been dealing with back issues most of the season.

The Rams signed Sam Ficken to replace Zuerlein. Ficken was one of 10 kickers the team worked out on Wednesday. Ficken, 25, has never kicked in an NFL game.

–The Seattle Seahawks were fined $100,000 by the NFL for failure to follow concussion protocol during a game last month against the Arizona Cardinals, the league and the NFLPA announced.

The $100,000 fine represents the maximum punishment for a first offense under the protocol.

In addition to the fine, the Seahawks’ coaching and medical staffs will be required to attend remedial training regarding concussion protocol, the NFL and NFLPA said in its joint statement.

The announcement stems from quarterback Russell Wilson briefly leaving midway through the third quarter of Seattle’s 22-16 win on Nov. 9 after taking a hit to the chin from Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby. Referee Walt Anderson then sent Wilson off the field for a test.

Wilson went into the medical tent on the sideline — TV cameras showed the quarterback was only in the tent for seconds — and sat out just one play before returning to the game.

–Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams has been ruled out of Saturday night’s game against the visiting Minnesota Vikings, coach Mike McCarthy announced.

Adams sustained a concussion on Sunday following a blindside hit administered by Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who initially received a two-game suspension from the league the following day. That ban was then reduced to one game.

Davis apologized to Adams over social media for the hit following an interception during the third quarter of Sunday’s game at Bank of America Stadium.

–Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman has cleared the concussion protocol and is on target to return for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

Coleman sustained a concussion in the first meeting between the NFC South rivals on Dec. 7. The 24-year-old sat out on Monday as the Falcons (9-5) posted a 24-21 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coleman joins backfield mate Devonta Freeman with seven total touchdowns on the season. The Falcons’ third-round pick in the 2013 draft, Coleman has rushed for 593 yards and has 21 catches for 245 yards in 13 games.

–Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin returned to the practice field.

Benjamin, who sat out practice on Wednesday, has been hobbled by a torn meniscus in his right knee. He said earlier this week that the knee will require surgery as soon as the season ends.

Benjamin’s availability is in question for Sunday’s road game against the New England Patriots (11-3).

–The father of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier said his son is making progress as he copes with a severe spinal injury, but there’s a long road ahead in his bid for recovery.

“We have seen some improvement that is encouraging,” Vernon Shazier told ESPN in an interview. “We’re taking it one day at a time. We do not know what tomorrow holds. It’s a (daily) journey we don’t know. But I know God is getting the message.”

Ryan Shazier was injured while making a tackle on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone in the first quarter of Pittsburgh’s 23-20 win on Dec. 4. Shazier hit Malone low with his shoulder pads, then immediately reached for his back while his legs remained motionless.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection was placed on a backboard and carted off the field before being transported to a Cincinnati-area hospital. He underwent spinal stabilization surgery two days later and remained in a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center facility for rehabilitation.

–The NFL has instructed its officials to no longer use paper as a means to measure first downs.

Alberto Riveron, the NFL’s head of officials, said that he told officials that it’s not proper protocol.

Riveron’s comment comes on the heels of official Gene Steratore using a folded index card during the Dallas Cowboys’ 20-17 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday night.

Steratore placed the card between the tip of the football and the end of the first-down marker before signaling that the Cowboys had converted a fourth down on their game-winning drive.