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  • Chargers Host Colts in Week 7 AFC Showdown at SoFi

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    The Chargers defend home turf against a booming Indianapolis Colts offense

    Roughly a quarter of the way into the season, the Chargers are clearly one of the most banged-up and bruised teams in the league. Numerous injuries to offensive and defensive pieces have definitely slowed down the early-season momentum that put the rest of the league on notice, though Herbert and co. still have plenty of fight left in them, and will do anything to come out on top, as we saw last week in the 29-27 win against the Miami Dolphins. 

    This week, the Bolts will see a visiting 5-1 Indianapolis Colts squad at SoFi Stadium, a team that has continued to dominate in their own right, boasting a fantastic spread offense featuring the newly revitalized QB Daniel Jones, the explosive RB Jonathan Taylor, and the emerging rookie TE, Tyler Warren. 

    But they are not without plenty of injuries of their own. Currently, on the Colts’ injury report are a plethora of core pieces that could be sidelined for Sunday’s match. These injuries include CB Kenny Moore II (questionable, Achilles), RB Tyler Goodson (questionable, groin), CB Charvarius Ward (out, concussion), WR Josh Downs (out, concussion), and CB Mike Hilton (out, shoulder). 

    With such a weakened secondary against the Chargers, Herbert should be able to get the chemistry rolling with the pass game, especially with one of the best trios of receivers in the league in Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Quentin Johnston.

    The Chargers’ run game is where things get a bit shaky, since rookie RB Omarion Hampton will continue to sit out of the action. In the meantime, back-up RB Kimani Vidal has done a great job in his place, and is expected to orchestrate the run-heavy offense once more. 

    ​Aside from Hampton sitting out, the Chargers injury report includes G Jamaree Salyer (questionable, knee), OT Joe Alt (doubtful, ankle), G Trey Pipkins III (out, knee), RB Hassan Haskins (questionable, chest), CB Elijah Molden ((doubtful, thumb), WR Derius Davis (questionable, knee), LB Troy Dye (questionable, thumb), LB Khalil Mack (injury reserve, elbow), and LB Denzel Perryman (injury reserve, ankle). It will be yet another uphill battle demanding the very best efforts from the next man up. 

    Both teams are potentially missing secondary pieces, plus two strong-armed QBs in spread offenses, which equals a promising recipe for an extremely fun shootout. We should see a high-scoring game with back-and-forth big-time plays, and as a football fan, nothing could be more exciting to watch. 

    ​Both teams currently sit in the top spots in their respective divisions, and certainly plan to continue doing so. Will the Chargers improve to 5-2? Find out this Sunday at a matinee showing.

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    Vahe Baghdoyan

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  • Eberflus: Sweat will ‘be here next week’ for minicamp

    Eberflus: Sweat will ‘be here next week’ for minicamp

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    Pro Bowl edge rusher was one of a number of absences from the Bears final day of offseason OTA’s

    LAKE FOREST, Ill. — A noted absence from Chicago Bears offseason OTA’s, at least during sessions available to the media, was Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat.

    Head Coach Matt Eberflus cleared some of the air around his top edge rusher Friday.

    “I’m not going to get into all the numbers, in terms of like the exact dates and when guys were here, but he’s been in the building,” Eberflus said of Sweat. “He’s been here a few, several times during the offseason and when he’s in, he’s locked in and ready to go.

    “And of course, he’ll be here next week and we’re excited about that.”

    Eberflus went on to say Sweat has not been around the team “for the last couple weeks,” but the key for him going into next season will be to perfect a consistent burst off the line, and like everyone else on Chicago’s roster this offseason, establish a good base of conditioning leading into the warmest months of the year.

    “His whole thing is about having a consistent get-off and then getting that base for the offseason leading into summer,” Eberflus said. “That’s really for everybody. We’re talking about that daily—about guys getting a good base going into summer conditioning because they’ll have about 42 days before they come back. And that’s going to be important for him.”

    According to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, Nate Davis and Rome Odunze were present Friday, but Keenan Allen, Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard were also absent from the Bears’ last OTA session.

    When asked if young guys, like rookie fifth round pick Austin Booker, were getting extra reps with the absence of established veterans like Sweat, Eberflus said they were, but there’s only so much that can be evaluated at this point in time.

    “Yeah, I think [DeMarcus] Walker was ill the last couple days so, he was sitting out today,” Eberflus said. “I think the young guys do get a lot more reps in there. But again, we got to wait until the pads come on. We got to see that to really evaluate that. You have to wait for the pads.”

    And when pads come on, Eberflus said that he expects Sweat, and the roster to be in full attendance once mandatory minicamp begins on Tuesday, June 4.

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    Eli Ong

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  • Analyzing the Bears’ biggest offseason moves

    Analyzing the Bears’ biggest offseason moves

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    The Sun-Times’ Bears experts — Patrick Finley, Jason Lieser and Mark Potash — break down the Bears’ dynamic offseason to this point:

    What can Caleb Williams show this offseason?

    Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, practices during Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Friday, May 10, 2024.

    FINLEY: Confidence. A quarterback who carried himself as an iconoclast in college is inheriting one of the toughest jobs in American sports. Embracing his championship goals — and not being afraid to talk about them — is the best he can do until the snaps start counting in late July.

    LIESER: For now, the Bears just need more of what they’ve already seen: poise and an eagerness to learn. Williams struck the ideal balance between confidence and humility in his arrival and needs to continue that once veterans arrive for Organized Team Activities and minicamp. He has to assert himself without alienating teammates. Because once training camp begins, the Bears are looking to him to lead.

    POTASH: That he learns quickly. The Bears might not be in “playoffs or bust” mode in 2024, but they still need to hit the ground running in training camp. With every player adjusting to new coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense, it’s up to the quarterback to be a step ahead of everyone else. If Williams can master the basics quickly, the pieces are in place to avoid a familiar Bears lament: “We’re still in the first year of this offense.”

    Which rookie not named Caleb Williams is the most compelling?

    FINLEY: Receiver Rome Odunze would be the face of almost any other team’s draft class. He’s charming, sure — pass game coordinator Thomas Brown said he was his favorite interview of anyone outside the quarterback class — but also a player the Bears pegged as one of the biggest difference-makers in the draft. For a franchise that hasn’t drafted a standout receiver since Alshon Jeffrey in 2012, that’s plenty reason to be excited.

    LIESER: Iowa punter Tory Taylor. It’s unusual to be so intrigued by a punter, but the Bears jumped at him in the fourth round. If he proves he was worth being drafted that high, it’ll actually be pretty interesting.

    POTASH: Defensive end Austin Booker is young (21) and inexperienced (18 college games, one start), but at 6-6, 245 with long arms and a lean, athletic build, it’s easy to see why scouts would be intrigued by his pass rush ability. He likely needs time, but if Matt Eberflus’ defense takes the next step, Booker with his raw talent could find playmaking opportunities.

    Which hole does general manager Ryan Poles still have to fill?

    FINLEY: Rotational help at defensive tackle. Justin Jones wasn’t an advanced stats darling — Pro Football Focus rated him the league’s 107th best tackle last year —but that didn’t stop the Cardinals from signing him to a three-year, $31.2 million contract in March. Jones played 69% of the Bears’ defensive snaps last year; presuming Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens can take his place is an act of faith.

    LIESER: The Bears’ pass rush is a glaring need, and it’s too late to do much about it personnel-wise. Poles’ best option probably is to re-sign defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who had a career-low four sacks in 13 games last season but averaged 9.3 per season before that. He’s only 29 and if he’s fully recovered from a broken ankle, he’s a decent choice. It’s either that or bet on Booker developing into an immediate starter.

    POTASH: After a 2022 teardown and 2023 first-step rebuild, Poles has acceptable pieces in place at virtually every position — unless defensive end DeMarcus Walker is no longer acceptable. What Poles needs is growth from within at several positions —Dexter, left tackle Braxton Jones, safety Jaquan Brisker, cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon. The biggest question mark might be at center, with Ryan Bates, Coleman Shelton and Doug Kramer.

    What aspect of the Bears’ schedule release this week will you be watching?

    FINLEY: Beside my own selfish interests — will they play on Christmas? — I want to know whether Eberflus plans to practice all week in England before playing there in mid-October. Matt Nagy went over late in 2019, the Bears lost to the Raiders and a franchise-altering slide began. Fun fact: Nagy was 15-5 before the London loss and 19-26 afterward.

    LIESER: Their game against the Commanders and No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels. The Bears will visit them for the second season in a row, but this time the Williams-Daniels matchup makes it nationally relevant. This would be an excellent choice as a prime-time game for the season opener.

    POTASH: Their second-half schedule. With a rookie quarterback and a first-year coordinator, the Bears figure to be better in the second half than the first. They probably would be better off playing their apparent toughest games — at the 49ers, at the Packers, at the Texans — in the second half.

    What’s Matt Eberflus’ biggest challenge?

    BEARS-051124-27.jpg

    Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus speaks to reporters during Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Friday, May 10, 2024.

    FINLEY: Dealing with expectations. The buzz surrounding the Bears is new territory for the head coach, whose team was widely expected to stink in both 2022 and 2023. He’s now coaching the most famous athlete in Chicago — one who’s yet to play a game. The Bears could very well be talk of the NFL; by speaking publicly more often than anyone in the franchise, Eberflus will be their face.

    LIESER: Balancing the dual roles of defensive play caller and head coach. He said from the start he did not want to do both jobs and thought the most prudent approach was to be a CEO-style head coach. He hired defensive coordinator Eric Washington, but will keep calling plays because it went so well last season when he stepped in for Alan Williams. But his job security hinges on Williams’ progress more than anything else.

    POTASH: Keeping his defense on upward path it was in the second half of last season. If the offense is a work-in-progress with a rookie quarterback and first-year coordinator, that wouldn’t be a big surprise. The defense being the culprit for a disappointing season would be far more damaging to Eberflus’ long-term future with the Bears.

    Grade the Bears’ offseason.

    FINLEY: A-. It’s hard to ask them to do more, starting with assembling a proven, dynamic offensive coaching staff in January and riding the momentum of the No. 1 overall pick all the way to the draft. I’d give them an A+ had the downtown stadium pitch been met with a warmer reception.

    LIESER: A. Williams’ arrival is invigorating. Some of their other moves, on both the roster and coaching staff, are debatable, but Williams outweighs them all. If he’s as great as the Bears anticipate he’ll be, he’ll change everything.

    POTASH: A. By trading for Keenan Allen and drafting Williams and Odunze, Poles has given the Bears their best chance in years to solve the chronic offensive issues that have dogged the franchise.

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    Patrick Finley

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  • Herbert rallies Chargers to 25-24 win over Cardinals

    Herbert rallies Chargers to 25-24 win over Cardinals

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    GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley knew he was going for the winning 2-point conversion a few minutes before it actually happened, so when the moment arrived, there was no hesitation and no looking at his playbook.

    The result was even better than he imagined.

    “Smooth like chocolate milk,” Staley said with a grin.

    Justin Herbert threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Austin Ekeler with 15 seconds left, then hit Gerald Everett for the decisive conversion to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 25-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

    Ekeler barely got into the end zone for the TD that moved the Chargers within one, capping a seven-play, 38-yard drive that lasted 1:33. The ball hit the pylon as he dived toward the corner.

    That set up Staley’s bold if predetermined call. Herbert hit Everett for a clean catch despite plenty of traffic near the goal line.

    “We just believed in each other,” Herbert said. “That’s one of those plays that we’ve repped a ton over the last couple of years. We feel comfortable with the guys out there. Gerald ran a great route, made a great catch.”

    Herbert completed 35 of 47 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns for the Chargers (6-5), who snapped a two-game skid while staying in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Arizona (4-8) has lost four of five, leaving it with almost no shot at making the NFC playoff field.

    Herbert now has led 10 fourth-quarter comebacks in his three seasons. But with opportunities to win the past two weeks in similar situations, the Chargers fell short.

    “That’s what it’s like when you’re a quarterback in the NFL,” Staley said. “You’re not going to make every 2-minute drive, but the thing he has going for him is that our entire organization believes he’s going to make it. He brought us back, game ball for him.

    “Big-time performance. We couldn’t have won without him.”

    The Chargers have trailed by 10 or more points at some point in the first half in each of their last four victories. They were down 14-0 against Cleveland and 10-0 against Denver, Atlanta and Arizona.

    The Cardinals took a 24-17 lead early in the fourth quarter when Kyler Murray threw a short pass to James Conner for a 6-yard touchdown. The veteran running back had 25 carries for 120 yards, his first 100-yard rushing game in two seasons with the Cardinals.

    Murray threw for 191 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and ran for a score after missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury.

    Arizona got some big defensive stops in the fourth quarter but the offense couldn’t run out the clock. The Cardinals got the ball back with 2:19 left, but went three-and-out in just 31 seconds.

    DeAndre Carter had a 20-yard punt return, and a 5-yard penalty set up the Chargers deep in Cardinals territory for the winning drive.

    “We had our chances,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “I think both teams played well enough to win. They made the plays at the end, unfortunately we didn’t. Our offense got it back twice — went three-and-out — can’t do that against a good team.”

    Arizona took a 17-14 lead into halftime when Murray ran for a 5-yard touchdown just before the break, capping a 14-play, 75-yard drive.

    The Cardinals had their top two receivers, DeAndre Hopkins and Marquise Brown, on the field for the first time this season. Arizona jumped to a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Murray threw a pass over the middle to Hopkins, who spun out of a tackle and sprinted to the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown.

    Matt Prater’s 43-yard field goal on the Cardinals’ next drive made it 10-0.

    The Chargers quickly cut that margin midway through the second quarter when Herbert threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen.

    After Murray was intercepted, Herbert found Carter for a 33-yard touchdown and a 14-10 lead. Carter finished with seven catches for 73 yards along with the key punt return.

    INJURIES

    Chargers: WR Mike Williams (ankle) was inactive. … RT Trey Pipkins III (knee) and C Corey Linsley (concussion) left the game in the second quarter.

    Cardinals: WR Greg Dortch (thumb), WR Rondale Moore (groin) and CB Byron Murphy Jr. (back) were inactive. … Arizona was missing four out its five starting offensive linemen. Left tackle D.J. Humphries (back) was put on injured reserve earlier this week.

    UP NEXT

    Chargers: At Las Vegas next Sunday.

    Cardinals: After a bye, host New England on Monday, Dec. 12.

    ———

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

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  • Kelce scores 3 touchdowns, Chiefs rally past Chargers 30-27

    Kelce scores 3 touchdowns, Chiefs rally past Chargers 30-27

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    INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce ended up putting on a performance that made The Fonz proud.

    Mahomes connected with Kelce for three touchdowns — including the go-ahead score with 31 seconds remaining — as the Kansas City Chiefs rallied past the Los Angeles Chargers 30-27 on Sunday night to stay atop the AFC.

    Mahomes met Emmy Award-winning actor Henry Winkler before the game. Winkler, who played Fonzie for 12 seasons on the iconic television show “Happy Days”, received a signed jersey on the sideline. Kelce got in the act by wearing a t-shirt before the game that had a picture of The Fonz and said “Football. Family. Fonzie”.

    When Mahomes and the Chiefs got the ball at the KC 25-yard line with 1:46 remaining, he had his usual cool and calm presence.

    “When I went in the huddle, it was let’s just do it. Everyone had the mindset of take it one play at a time and get it when it counts,” said Mahomes, completed 20 of 34 passes for 329 yards.

    After the Chargers had pulled ahead 27-23 on Justin Herbert’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:46 left, Mahomes directed a six-play, 75-yard drive that took just 1:15.

    It was the 11th time in the regular-season that Mahomes had a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

    Despite missing two receivers due to injuries, he completed 3 of 4 for 48 yards on the drive and scrambled twice for an additional 22.

    The Chiefs also benefitted from a third-down holding call on Chargers’ safety Derwin James after an incomplete pass.

    After a 16-yard run by Mahomes and Kansas City timeout, Mahomes hit Kelce on a short crossing route that Kelce took to the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown,

    “We didn’t have our full arsenal of weapons. I was ready for the matchup,” said Kelce, who had six catches for 115 yards. “I knew they were going to play man-to-man and Patrick was going to look for me when it was 1-on-1. I was able to finish the game off on a positive note.”

    Herbert and the Chargers had one final chance, but Nick Bolton intercepted a deflected pass to seal it for the Chiefs (8-2), who swept the season series from Los Angeles (5-5) and took a three-game lead in the AFC West.

    It is the third straight year the Chargers have had a late lead at home against the Chiefs and were unable to finish.

    “You should be frustrated. To not beat those guys is disappointing because we felt like our level was good enough to win, but we didn’t finish plays in that fourth quarter to get it done,” Staley said after Los Angeles lost its second straight to fall to 5-5.

    With a one-game lead over four teams in the conference, Kansas City is in position to claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

    Kelce scored at least three touchdowns for the second time in his career. He scored four in a Monday night win over the Raiders on Oct. 10.

    Chiefs rookie Isiah Pacheco rushed for a career-high 107 yards.

    “Patrick and Travis calm everything down on both sides of the ball. The good players really stepped up when we needed it,” coach Andy Reid said. “I’m proud of our guys for stepping up offensively and defensively. That’s big-time football at the right time.

    Herbert went 23 of 30 for 280 yards and two touchdowns, both to Palmer, who had eight receptions for 106 yards. It was easily the Chargers’ best offensive performance in nearly a month as the unit was bolstered by the return of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

    Allen, playing only his third game due to a nagging hamstring injury, had five receptions for 94 yards, including a 46-yard catch up the right sideline on the go-ahead drive to put the ball on the Chiefs 16-yard line.

    “Mike (Williams) is about as tough as it gets, and Keenan (Allen), too. They’re special competitors, so any time that you get those guys out on the field, something good is going to happen. But, unfortunately, it didn’t go our way today,” Herbert said.

    Austin Ekeler had 100 yards (83 rushing, 17 receiving) and a touchdown.

    KELCE’S RECORD NIGHT

    It was Kelce’s 34th game with at least 100 yards receiving, surpassing Rob Gronkowski for the most by a tight end in NFL history. Eight of his 11 TDs this season have come in prime-time games.

    Kelce gave Kansas City a 13-10 lead early in the second quarter on a 4-yard screen pass where he imitated Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders’ high-skipping dance on his way to the end zone.

    Kelce’s 32-yard touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter put the Chiefs on top 23-20. Kelce caught the ball at the LA 26 after Asante Samuel Jr. made a diving attempt, broke a tackle by Nasir Adderley at the 16 and went up the right sideline for the score.

    QUICK START

    After Harrison Butker’s 33-yard field goal on the opening possession gave the Chiefs a 3-0 lead, the Charges promptly answered on their first drive in three plays. Palmer beat Juan Thornhill in single coverage and Herbert found him for a 50-yard touchdown.

    It was the first time in 20 regular-season games that Kansas City had allowed a touchdown on an opening drive.

    INJURIES

    Chiefs: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter, Thornhill had a calf injury in the second quarter and WR Kadarius Toney strained a hamstring in the third quarter. None returned to the game.

    Chargers: Williams’ return was short-lived. He reinjured his ankle after a 15-yard reception in the first quarter. … LB Kenneth Murray came out in the third quarter with a neck injury. … S Nasir Adderley had a thumb injury in the fourth quarter.

    UP NEXT

    Chiefs: Host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.

    Chargers: Return to the road to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.

    ———

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

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  • Chargers rule out Keenan Allen, 5 others vs. Falcons

    Chargers rule out Keenan Allen, 5 others vs. Falcons

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    COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert is about to get a crash course in playing a game without his top two receivers.

    The Los Angeles Chargers ruled out Keenan Allen for Sunday’s game at Atlanta due to continuing problems with his hamstring. Allen said he experienced a setback last week while doing a workout and didn’t practice all week.

    Mike Williams suffered an ankle injury in the Oct. 23 loss to Seattle and is expected to miss at least the next three games.

    Joshua Palmer and DeAndre Carter are expected to start in Allen and Williams’ place, but even that isn’t assured. Palmer came out of concussion protocol earlier this week and has been a full participant in practices, but Carter is questionable due to illness.

    “It’s just tough losing guys that we think really highly of. We think really highly of the guys behind them and they have done a great job stepping up all throughout camp and all throughout the season, so far,” Herbert said. “We’re going to do our best to get them the ball and hopefully make things happen.”

    Michael Bandy and Jason Moore are also on the roster with the possibility that Joe Reed or Keelan Doss could be elevated from the practice squad.

    With injuries impacting the receiver group, Austin Ekeler leads NFL running backs with 53 receptions. It is only the third time a running back has at least 50 catches through his team’s first seven games.

    Ekeler could become the first running back in NFL history to have three straight games with double-digit receptions if he has at least 10 against the Falcons.

    Four more players have also been ruled out, including tight end Donald Parham (hamstring), linebacker Chris Rumph II (knee), kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (back).

    With Hopkins and backup Taylor Bertolet both sidelined, Cameron Dicker will handle kicking duties. Dicker will be the 13th kicker used by the Chargers since they moved to Los Angeles in 2017.

    Despite the injuries, the Chargers are 4-3 as they begin a stretch where four of their next five games are on the road.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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  • Chargers’ Allen game-time decision vs. Seahawks

    Chargers’ Allen game-time decision vs. Seahawks

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    5:17 PM ET

    • Lindsey ThiryESPN

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      • Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times
      • Previously covered the Falcons
      • Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball

    COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen will be a game-time decision to play in a Week 7 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, coach Brandon Staley said Friday.

    “[He’s] closer, had a good week, was in practice, not only individual but during team,” Staley said. “It was a good day today and we’ll see how he responds tomorrow.”

    Allen injured his left hamstring in a Week 1 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and has not played since.

    The Chargers are 4-2 as they prepare to play the 3-3 Seahawks at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. The Bolts will then go into a Week 8 bye.

    Allen said Friday that he had “high hopes” of returning against the Seahawks and expressed confidence about how he practiced throughout the week.

    “Felt good in there,” said Allen, who is officially listed as questionable on the team’s injury list. “It was solid. Felt good on the game speed.”

    The Chargers could again be facing significant injury issues to their lineup if Allen is unable to play.

    Wide receiver Joshua Palmer and tight end Donald Parham Jr. are in concussion protocol and have been ruled out. Running back Joshua Kelley is out because of a knee injury, and kicker Dustin Hopkins is out because of a right hamstring strain.

    In Hopkins’ absence, the Chargers will turn to kicker Taylor Bertolet, whom they signed to the practice squad going into Week 5.

    And in Kelley’s absence, rookie Isaiah Spiller will be expected to step up in a role behind running backs Austin Ekeler and Sony Michel.

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  • WR Allen had ‘fan perspective’ with critical tweet

    WR Allen had ‘fan perspective’ with critical tweet

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    7:07 PM ET

    • Lindsey ThiryESPN

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      • Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times
      • Previously covered the Falcons
      • Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball

    COSTA MESA, Calif. — Wide receiver Keenan Allen told ESPN on Friday that he “had kind of a fan perspective on things” when he sent out a critical tweet during the Los Angeles Chargers‘ Week 5 win over the Cleveland Browns.

    “WTF are we doing,” Allen wrote in a since-deleted tweet after coach Brandon Staley elected to attempt a conversion on fourth-and-1 with one minute, 14 seconds remaining from their own 46-yard line last Sunday.

    Quarterback Justin Herbert‘s pass fell incomplete to wide receiver Mike Williams, but Browns kicker Cade York, who converted a 58-yard field goal earlier in the season, missed a potential game-winning 54-yard attempt to give the Chargers a 30-28 victory.

    “I didn’t feel what they were feeling, see what they were seeing,” Allen said about his coaches and teammates who were in Cleveland while he was away from the team nursing a hamstring injury. “When [Staley] talked to us in the team meeting, it just made sense.”

    When asked if he needed to address coaches or the team after publicly questioning Staley’s decision, Allen said, “I don’t think I was questioning it. That was just my opinion, even if I was on the field.”

    On Friday, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi expressed regret over the fourth-down playcall.

    “I wish I had that call back,” Lombardi said, adding later in regard to the decision to go for it on fourth down, “I just felt guilty because I felt like I could have made a better play-call and everyone would have thought it was the smartest decision ever.”

    Allen, 30, said after the team meeting that he went to Staley’s office “on my own” to talk to him and “let him know how I was feeling, let him know why I did it and like he said, it made us closer.”

    Staley said earlier in the week that he was made aware of Allen’s tweet following the game.

    “Since I’ve become the head coach, we have become extremely close,” Staley said. “Anyone that has been a part of competition knows that when you’re not a part of it, you can feel some type of way. Keenan’s heart is with me, it’s with us… We’re going to become closer because of it.”

    The Chargers (3-2) will host the Denver Broncos (2-3) in an AFC West matchup on Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium.

    Allen said, “I doubt it, but it’s in the air,” when asked if he would return from his hamstring injury.

    Allen sustained the injury in a 24-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 and said he reaggravated it at practice ahead of a Week 4 matchup against the Houston Texans.

    “Last week was definitely when I wanted to get back, but that didn’t happen,” Allen said of a potential return date. “We’re just playing it day-by-day. This week would be great, but I don’t think I’m going to make it. So, Seattle’s looking bright.”

    The Chargers play the Seattle Seahawks (2-3) in Week 7 at SoFi Stadium.

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  • Chargers WR Allen (hamstring) ruled out again

    Chargers WR Allen (hamstring) ruled out again

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    Sep 30, 2022

    • Lindsey ThiryESPN

      Close

      • Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times
      • Previously covered the Falcons
      • Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball

    COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans because of a hamstring injury.

    Center Corey Linsley, with a knee issue, and tight end Donald Parham Jr., also with a hamstring injury, are questionable. Cornerback J.C. Jackson, who has been dealing with an ankle issue, and quarterback Justin Herbert, who has fractured rib cartilage, will play.

    The Chargers are 1-2 and have been dealing with a host of injury issues, which included placing left tackle Rashawn Slater and edge rusher Joey Bosa on injured reserve earlier this week.

    Allen suffered the hamstring injury in Week 1 and has not played since.

    Earlier in the week, coach Brandon Staley expressed growing confidence that Allen might be able to return against the Texans.

    However, on Friday, Staley said that Allen “kind of felt something” during individual drills at practice.

    “We’re going to hold him out of this game, just going to make sure that he keeps making progress,” Staley said of the 10th-year pro. “Just don’t want to push it where you have a significant setback of a major injury, so he couldn’t make it this week and next week we’ll give it another shot.”

    Staley added that Allen did not suffer a major setback. “Just didn’t make enough progress to make it to the game,” he said.

    Allen has led the Chargers in receptions since 2017.

    The Bolts are also without reserve wide receiver Jalen Guyton, who tore his left ACL on Sunday.

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