Gordon good to go?
Chargers RB practises, but remains game-time decision
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Melvin
Gordon wants to suit up for the Los Angeles Chargers’ biggest game of the season Thursday night at Kansas City, but he says his status will likely not be decided until 90 minutes before kickoff.
The fourth-year running back has missed the past two games after spraining the MCL in his right knee during the second half of the Chargers’ Nov. 26 win against Arizona. He is sixth in the AFC in rushing with 802 yards despite missing three games and leads the conference in rushing average per game (80.2).
Gordon said he is stronger and confident about the knee, but he acknowledges that it will not be 100 per cent if he plays against the Chiefs. He was listed as limited on the team’s Tuesday practice report, which was the first time he has participated in a practice since the injury.
“We need all the playmakers we need to beat K.C.,” he said. “We have so much at stake right now and I want to help I can. If I can’t go out there and be me and can’t make my cuts I don’t want to be out there.”
The Chargers (10-3) can clinch their first playoff spot since 2013 with a win against the Chiefs (11-2). It would also move them into a tie with Kansas City atop the AFC West, but the Chiefs would hold the tiebreaker due to a better division record.
Los Angeles will need to win out if it has any hopes of winning the division and then hope Kansas City drops one of its final two games, which are at Seattle and home to Oakland.
Gordon is averaging 3.7 yards per carry in six games against the Chiefs, which is below his career average of 4.1. He has made a bigger impact as a receiver in the past two meetings with 15 receptions for 193 yards. He had nine catches for 102 yards in the Sept. 9 loss to the Chiefs.
“If I sat out until the playoffs. I could wait and know I would be full go. It’s just being smart and not prolonging injury,” Gordon said.
Gordon’s status is more complicated with backup
Austin Ekeler in concussion protocol and dealing with a bruised nerve in his neck, which occurred late in Sunday’s 26-21 win over Cincinnati. That could leave the Chargers relying on a pair of rookies. Justin Jackson will see a bigger role — either getting his first career start or as the backup — and Detrez
Newsome could see his first significant action at running back.
CAP UP TO $191 MILLION
The NFL salary cap will increase by roughly 6% in 2019 to a threshold of up to $191.1 million per team, the league announced Tuesday.
The 2018 cap is $177.2 million. Next season’s cap will be “in the range of $187.0 million to $191.1 million,” the league tweeted.
The salary cap has increased by roughly $10 million per season since 2013, when it was $123 million. “Another sign of the NFL’s continued success and growth,” league spokesman
Brian McCarthy tweeted in the announcement.
GARCON GOES ON IR
The San Francisco 49ers have placed receiver Pierre Garcon on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury.
The 49ers signed safety
Tyree Robinson from Dallas’ practice squad to a two-year deal to replace Garcon on the active roster. San Francisco also signed tight end Marcus Lucas to the practice squad.
OAKLAND SUES NFL, RAIDERS
The city of Oakland has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit trying to recover damages for the Raiders’ coming move to Las Vegas.
The suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the Raiders, the NFL and the other 31 clubs seeks lost revenue, money Oakland taxpayers invested in the Raiders and other costs. The suit does not ask the court to prevent the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas but asks for damages that will help pay off the approximately $80 million in debt remaining from renovations on the Coliseum.
The city says the defendants violated federal antitrust laws and the league violated its own relocation policies when the teams voted in March 2017 to approve the Raiders’ decision to move to Las Vegas.
“The Raiders’ illegal move lines the pockets of NFL owners and sticks Oakland, its residents, taxpayers and dedicated fans with the bill,” Oakland city attorney Barbara
Parker said in a statement. “The purpose of this lawsuit is to hold the defendants accountable and help to compensate Oakland for the damages the defendants’ unlawful actions have caused and will cause to the people of Oakland.”
The Raiders are planning to move into their new stadium in Las Vegas in 2020. The team hasn’t signed a lease for 2019. The Raiders had been in talks with Oakland about a lease for next season but they might now look for another option following the suit.