Chargers’ Bosa, Tillery placed in COVID-19 protocol
The Los Angeles Chargers may be missing a pair of important defensive players going into Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after linemen Joey Bosa and Jerry Tillery entered the league’s reserve/COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday.
Bosa is tied for the league lead with three strip-sacks and has 5 ½ sacks this season. He has a sack in two straight games and three of the past four.
Tilley has started eight games and is third on the team with eight quarterback hits. He also has 2 ½ sacks.
Los Angeles (5-4) has three players in protocol after linebacker Drue Tranquill entered last Friday and missed the team’s 27-20 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The Steelers (5-3-1) are expected to be without safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was placed on the list Monday. Coach Mike Tomlin said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a chance to play after missing the Detroit game, but that they are preparing for backup Mason Rudolph to start.
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt will also have an opportunity to play, while safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is expected to miss Sunday’s road game at Los Angeles.
Watt left in the third quarter of Sunday’s game with hip and knee injuries and did not return. Fitzpatrick played on Sunday, but he joined Roethlisberger on the COVID-19 list on Monday.
“We don’t anticipate him coming back,” Tomlin said of Fitzpatrick.
Tomlin said that Roethlisberger could play, provided he gets the required negative COVID-19 testing to be available. He is virtually participating in meetings this week.
“If we get to a point where Ben has an opportunity to get on a moving train, that’s exactly what he’ll do,” Tomlin said.
Until then, Tomlin said the Steelers intend to build their game plan around Rudolph, who completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception on Sunday against Detroit.
Bell waived by Ravens after minimal impact
The Baltimore Ravens waived running back Le’Veon Bell on Tuesday.
Bell was one of three veterans the Ravens picked up after losing running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards to preseason injuries. Baltimore also brought in Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman, and Bell had the fewest carries of the three even though Murray has missed the past three games with an ankle injury.
The 29-year-old Bell rushed for 83 yards on 31 carries for the Ravens. He did run for two touchdowns.
“This hurt, but it’s been a blessing to be here to say the least,” Bell said on Twitter. “I’ve enjoyed every second of this short period.”
Packers grab No. 1 spot in AP Pro32 poll
The Pack are back. Aaron Rodgers’ return helped lift the Green Bay Packers four places to the top spot of the latest AP Pro32 poll.
Rodgers missed the Packers’ Week 9 loss in Kansas City after testing positive for COVID-19. However, the reigning MVP returned for Sunday’s 17-0 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
The Packers received six of the 12 first-place votes for 378 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.
“Defense coming on and (running back) A.J. Dillon packs a power punch, won without Rodgers throwing a TD,” Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki said.
The surging Tennessee Titans, who have won six in a row, got the remaining six first-place votes for 375 points to remain in second place.
Another first-place NFC team, the Dallas Cowboys, climbed four places all the way to No. 3 after a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys head to Kansas City to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday in one of the top matchups of Week 11. The Chiefs rocketed up five spots to round out the top 10 after routing the Las Vegas Raiders 41-14.
“The Packers, now that they have Rodgers back, are my pick this week,” said Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.