Hodges will start for Pittsburgh
It’s officially “Duck” sea- son for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers ruled quar- terback Mason Rudolph out for Sunday’s visit to the Los Angeles Chargers while he continues to recover from a concussion, meaning undrafted rookie free agent Devlin “Duck” Hodges will get the start.
Rudolph was limited in practice all week after getting knocked unconscious by Baltimore’s Earl Thomas in the third quarter of an overtime loss to the Ravens.
Hodges, a champion duck caller in his downtime, com- pleted 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards and scrambled once for 21 yards after coming in for Rudolph.
Paxton Lynch, signed to the practice squad after Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season with an elbow in- jury last month, will serve as Hodges’ backup Sunday.
Hodges set a Football Championship Subdivision record for career passing yards at Samford before the Steelers signed him following a May tryout. CHARGERS’ HENRY A POSSIBILITY >> Tight end Hunter Henry took part in all drills during the Chargers’ practice Friday, leaving open the possibility that he could play against the Steelers.
Henry has missed the past four games due to a knee injury. This is the first time he has participated in a full practice since the injury occurred during the Sept. 8 opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Defensive end Melvin Ingram, who missed last week’s game against Denver due to a hamstring injury, is also questionable. KAMARA HURTING >> The New Orleans Saints have listed running back Alvin Kamara as questionable for Sunday’s game in Jacksonville because of an ankle injury that limited his practice time on Thursday and sidelined him entirely from practice on Friday.
Kamara, who routinely catches passes out of the backfield and also lines up at times as a receiver, has 583 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage for New Orleans (4-1). He’s rushed 75 times for 342 yards and one TD.
Saints coach Sean Payton has declined to discuss when or how Kamara got hurt. He was not on the injury report on Wednesday, three days after gaining 62 yards rushing and 42 yards receiving in a victory over Tampa Bay.
NEW DEAL FOR JANOVICH >> Andy Janovich won’t be getting sleek new wheels after signing a three-year extension with the Denver Broncos worth $5.7 million.
“No, I’ll probably hang on to that for a while,” Janovich said of “Old Blue,” his beat-up 20-year-old Dodge pickup truck with the cracked windshield that he bought second hand back in college so he could haul around his mower.
The fourth-year fullback from Nebraska is making $720,000 this season in the final year of his rookie contract as a sixth-round draft pick.
RAMSEY UNCERTAIN TO PLAY >> The Jacksonville Jaguars have listed cornerback Jalen Ramsey as questionable to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Coach Doug Marrone made the designation Friday, a day after owner Shad Khan said he expects the disgruntled defender to return following a two-week absence because of an apparent back injury.
JACKSON OUT FOR EAGLES >> The Philadelphia Eagles will be missing wide receiver DeSean Jackson when they visit Minnesota.
Jackson, the former Cal star, hasn’t played since suffering an abdomen injury in Week 2.