Running low on RBs
Minus Ajayi, Eagles turn to banged-up group
PHILADELPHIA — Losing Jay
Ajayi means the Philadelphia Eagles will have to turn to a banged-up committee of running backs.
While the front office ponders making a deal to replace Ajayi, the Eagles (2-3) will rely on the group it has Thursday night against the New York Giants (1-4). Only two of the remaining four backs are healthy.
Veteran Darren Sproles missed the past four games with a hamstring injury and didn’t practice Tuesday, so it’s unlikely he’ll be ready to go.
Corey Clement was back on the field after sitting out the past two games because of a quadriceps injury. Clement would likely get most of the touches if he’s able to play.
Wendell Smallwood and undrafted rookie Josh Adams should also see plenty of action.
“Big shoes to fill,” quarterback Carson Wentz said of losing Ajayi, who tore his ACL. “He was a violent, downhill runner that sought contact and loved to feed off that, and that got us going. But we feel confident in these guys stepping up. We saw Wendell step up and make plays. Getting Corey back will be big for us. Josh is going to have to increase his role. Hopefully, Sproles comes back soon. We have a stable of workhorses but it’s tough losing Jay.” Personnel boss Howie
Roseman is certainly looking around to see if he can bring in another running back that fits Philadelphia’s needs — at the right price. There’s already been speculation the Eagles could pursue LeSean McCoy, the franchise’s all-time leading rusher traded by Chip Kelly to Buffalo in 2015.
Ajayi was acquired from Miami at the trade deadline last season and helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl.
“I think with any new player, regardless of who you’re talking of, there is a learning curve involved,” offensive co-ordinator
Mike Groh said.
Ajayi had 184 yards rushing, an average of 4.1 yards per carry, and three touchdowns this season. Clement has 112 yards rushing, an average of 4.1 yards per carry and one TD, plus eight catches for 74 yards. Smallwood has 150 yards rushing, a 6.0 average, and one TD on the ground and one receiving. Adams has seven carries.
“Jay is a big part of what we’ve done,” Groh said. “It’s an injury that will impact us here until we get the guys back out there. Wendell has done a really nice job in the playing time he’s gotten thus far in the season. Really pleased with his production, he’s done a nice job. Corey is progressing with his injury. We’re happy with the guys we got. We think we still have talented players to be able to be really good at the running back position.”
BILLS SIGN ANDERSON
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills rookie starter Josh Allen is gaining a mentor after Buffalo signed Derek Anderson on Tuesday.
The Bills announced the move Tuesday, a day after Anderson visited the team’s facility. The 35-yearold has a 20-27 record over 12 NFL seasons, and spent the past seven serving as Cam
Newton’s backup in Carolina. Coach Sean
McDermott supported the need to add a veteran presence to help groom Allen in discussing the possibility of the Bills signing Anderson a day earlier.
“He’s got some good wisdom stored up in that brain,” McDermott said.
“He’s got a good outlook on the game from an offensive standpoint and understands defences,” he added. “So there’s a lot of value to it from where we are right now in terms of that quarterback room.”
CHARLES TO JAGUARS
The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed former Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles to help during Leonard
Fournette’s absence.
The 31-year-old Charles worked out for the team Tuesday morning and signed a one-year contract in the afternoon.
The Jaguars (3-2) lost third-string running back Corey
Grant (foot) for the season and expect to be without Fournette for several more weeks. Grant was placed on injured reserve, opening a roster spot for Charles. Charles should be able to pick up the offence quickly and make an immediate contribution Sunday at Dallas (2-3) while playing behind T.J. Yeldon.
Charles spent nine years in Kansas City and played 14 games with Denver last season. He has 7,556 yards rushing and 44 touchdowns, plus 2,586 yards receiving and 20 more scores.
The Jaguars also signed rookie running back Dave
Williams off Denver’s practice squad and released first-year back Brandon Wilds, who was a non-factor with the ball and a liability as a blocker.
The team also placed Austin
Seferian-Jenkins on injured reserve and promoted fellow tight end David Grinnage from the practice squad to the active roster.
BENGALS-CHIEFS FLEXED
CINCINNATI — The Kansas City Chiefs got a sixth prime time game when the NFL moved their home game on Sunday, Oct. 21 against the Cincinnati Bengals to the night slot.
The Chiefs are one of only two 5-0 teams, along with the Rams. The Bengals and the Saints are 4-1.
The Chiefs beat the Broncos 27-23 in a Monday night game Oct. 1. They also have a Monday night game against the Rams on Nov. 19, Sunday night games against the Patriots and Seahawks, and a Thursday night game against the Chargers.
Cincinnati had only one prime time game originally scheduled, a 34-23 win over the
Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 13. Cincinnati is 6-14 in prime time games since 2011, including 0-5 on Sunday night.
ALEX SPANOS DIES
STOCKTON, Calif. — Alex
Spanos, the son of Greek immigrants who used a self-made fortune from construction and real estate to buy the Chargers in 1984, died Tuesday. He was 95.
The Chargers announced Spanos’ death. Faye Spanos, his wife, died in August at 92.
After building a nationwide construction empire based in Stockton, his Northern California hometown, Spanos realized a lifelong dream of owning an NFL franchise when he bought controlling interest in the San Diego Chargers from Gene Klein in 1984 for about $50 million. He eventually bought all but 3% of the team.
TITANS WAIVE WILLIAMS
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have waived wide receiver Nick Williams after he dropped a potential touchdown pass in a 13-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills.