LDN - Sports

NFL injury notebook: Good news for Chiefs, Rams at WR

[November 03, 2018] Source: Reuters

After a week of some worry, it appears two of the NFL's most explosive offenses will have their full complement of weapons ready come Sunday.

Wide receiver/return specialist Tyreek Hill was a full participant at Kansas City practice on Friday, and the team plans for him to start at Cleveland.

Hill left last week's win over the Denver Broncos with a groin injury but head coach Andy Reid indicated good news on Hill's injury earlier this week. Hill is tied for the team lead with 44 receptions for 705 yards and seven touchdowns.

In Los Angeles, wide receiver Cooper Kupp also practiced in full and, according to head coach Sean McVay, is expected to play Sunday in New Orleans. He suffered a knee injury on a horse-collar tackle in Denver in Week 6 and missed the Rams' last two games.

In the first five games of the season, Kupp had 30 receptions for 438 yards and five touchdowns. The five touchdowns still lead the team.

--Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon practiced for the first time this week, but was listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury.

"We'll see," Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said about Gordon's status for Sunday. Los Angeles also ruled out three members of the defense: defensive end Joey Bosa (foot), linebacker Kyzir White (knee) and defensive end Chris Landrum (hip).

Gordon, who was sidelined in the Chargers' prior game against Tennessee in Week 7 before a bye last week, has been one of the NFL's best all-purpose backs this season with his combination of rushing (466 yards, six rushing touchdowns) and receiving (279 receiving yards, three TD receptions). With nine touchdowns, he ranks tied for third in the NFL.

--San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that running back Raheem Mostert will miss the rest of the season.

Mostert suffered a broken right forearm in the third quarter of Thursday night's 34-3 win over the Oakland Raiders. Shanahan said Mostert would undergo surgery Friday then be placed on injured reserve. And, according to the coach, the injury involves "a broken bone, different ligaments, and things like that."

Shanahan also said he plans to take the weekend to decide who will start at quarterback against the New York Giants on Nov. 12. Nick Mullens completed 16 of 22 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns in his NFL debut Thursday. Second-year quarterback C.J. Beathard, who started the previous five games after Jimmy Garoppolo was lost for the season with a torn ACL, missed Thursday with a wrist injury.

--The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out starting offensive tackles Ronnie Stanley and James Hurst for Sunday's NFC North battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Stanley, the left tackle, will miss the contest because of an ankle injury suffered against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. Hurst, the right tackle, will miss his third straight game with a back injury.

Jermaine Eluemunor -- promoted from the practice squad on Oct. 23 -- will start at left tackle and rookie Orlando Brown Jr. will start on the right.

--Bears pass-rushing specialist Khalil Mack is expected to be a game-time decision at Buffalo as he recovers from an ankle injury. Mack was initially injured in Chicago's overtime loss at Miami on Oct. 14. Head coach Matt Nagy said Wednesday that Mack is showing signs of improvement.

[to top of second column]

There remains a chance the Bears will rest Mack with three NFC North games in 12 days -- Nov. 11-22 -- to follow. He was acquired from the Oakland Raiders prior to Week 1 and was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Month in September.

--Starting cornerback Robert Alford and kicker Matt Bryant won't play when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Rookie Isaiah Oliver would replace Alford in the starting lineup while the team will again go with Giorgio Tavecchio, who filled in for Bryant in Week 7, made a 56-yard field goal that proved to be the game winner against the Giants, and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. The Falcons were on a bye last week.

--Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is questionable to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, though he practiced all week and expects to play.

Latavius Murray has filled in for Cook, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury. Cook has 36 carries for 98 yards this season. If he returns, he will be on a limited snap count.

--Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen, dealing with an injured right elbow, practiced for the time in nearly three weeks Friday.

The big right-hander did not require surgery after receiving multiple medical opinions, but is also not expected to be available Sunday. The Bills' first-round pick in 2018 was injured when he took a helmet to the elbow against the Houston Texans on Oct. 14.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

--Defensive end Ziggy Ansah could rejoin the Detroit Lions on the field Sunday for the first time since injuring his shoulder in Week 1. Ansah practiced without limitation for the past two weeks but did not play. Ansah, who has played just 19 snaps this season, is playing on the franchise tag and earning $17.143 million this season.

--Minnesota wide receiver Stefon Diggs (rib), cornerback Xavier Rhodes (foot), safety Andrew Sendejo (groin) and Riley Reiff (foot) are questionable for Sunday. ... Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (hamstring) could be limited to a pass-rushing role against the Browns if he plays. He is listed as questionable. K.C. safety Eric Berry, yet to play in a game this season due to a heel injury, is not expected to return.

--Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill will his miss fourth straight game with what the team says is an injury to the capsule in his passing shoulder (though surgery is not an option right now). Also, defensive end Charles Harris (calf) also will sit out his fourth straight game, while receiver Kenny Stills (groin), tight end A.J. Derby (foot) and starting cornerback Xavien Howard (ankle) are all questionable. ... Miami cornerback Cordrea Tankersley will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL during practice Thursday.

--Field Level Media

Back to top