Chargers QB Rivers to play, extend streak
League looking into driver’s allegation against QB Winston.
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and has been given the green light to play in Sunday’s game against the Bills, the team announced Friday.
Rivers has fully participated in practice the past two days after being limited Wednesday. The veteran quarterback was cleared by an independent neurologist and is good to go for the game after initially being listed as questionable.
The 35-year-old hasn’t missed a game since taking over the Chargers’ starting role from Drew Brees in 2006. His 185 straight regular-season starts are the second-longest active streak for quarterbacks behind Eli Manning’s 208.
Bucs: The NFL is investigating an allegation that Jameis Winston groped a female Uber driver in 2016, and the Tampa Bay quarterback denied the allegation on his social media accounts.
The Buccaneers acknowledged the allegation Friday and released a statement saying they are in the “process of obtaining further information regarding today’s media report.”
The NFL also released a statement saying it has reached out to Uber to request more information.
The Uber driver told BuzzFeed News the incident stems from a 2 a.m. ride after a party in Scottsdale, Ariz., in March 2016. The driver said Winston was the only passenger, and that he sat in the front seat and was yelling homophobic slurs at pedestrians.
She said he then asked the driver to stop for food, and while waiting in a drive-thru, reached over and placed his hand on her crotch.
A representative for Winston, Russ Spielman, issued a statement denying the allegations. He said the only reason Winston’s name is attached to the allegation is because his Uber account was used to call the ride.
Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert will get his first start for Arizona on Sunday at Houston, coach Bruce Arians said. Drew Stanton, the starter the past two games, bruised his knee in a loss to Seattle last week and was limited in practice all week.
Gabbert will be making his 41st NFL start. He has a 9-31 record, with the Jaguars and 49ers.
Lions: Ruled out top defensive end Ezekiel Ansah against the Bears because of a back injury after he missed practice all week.
Chiefs: Pass rushers Tamba Hali (knee) and Dee Ford (back) were ruled out Sunday against the Giants.
Cowboys: Linebacker Sean Lee (hamstring) has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Philadelphia.
Broncos: Paxton Lynch has a good chance of being active for the first time this season Sunday against the Bengals. Brock Osweiler will make his third start, but coach Vance Joseph said Lynch may leapfrog Trevor Siemian as the backup.
Jaguars: Could be without running back Leonard Fournette (ankle) at winless Cleveland. Fournette did not practice Friday after being limited the previous two days.
Late Thursday
(At) Steelers 40, Titans 17: Running Pittsburgh’s no-huddle offense to near perfection in the second half, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns — three to Antonio Brown — as the Steelers (8-2) pulled away for a victory over Tennessee (6-4).
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota ran for a touchdown and threw for another but was picked off a careerhigh four times.
Thursday’s Games
Friday’s Games
(At) Pacers 107, Pistons 100: Reserve guard Lance Stephenson scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter as Indiana rallied from a 22-point deficit.
Heat 91, (at) Wizards 88: Hassan Whiteside had 22 points and 16 rebounds for Miami, which held on against Washington after allowing a 25-point lead to dwindle to one. The Heat held the Wizards’ John Wall to eight points.
(At) Raptors 107, Knicks 84: Kyle Lowry matched his season high with 22 points and added 10 assists and DeMar DeRozan also scored 22 in Toronto’s eighth consecutive victory over New York.
(At) Nets 118, Jazz 107: Spencer Dinwiddie scored a career-high 25 points hours after D’Angelo Russell had knee surgery as Brooklyn defeated Utah.
(At) Cavaliers 118, Clippers 113: LeBron James scored 39 points and Kevin Love added 25 as Cleveland handed Los Angeles its seventh consecutive loss.
(At) Bulls 123, Hornets 100: Justin Holiday had 27 points as Chicago overcame 47 points by Charlotte’s Kemba Walker to snap its five-game losing streak.
(At) Spurs 104, Thunder 101: LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 points as San Antonio rallied from a 23-point deficit. Danny Green added 17 points, and Pau Gasol had 14 points to help the Spurs end Oklahoma City’s three-game winning streak.
Timberwolves 111, (at) Mavericks 87: Jimmy Butler led a balanced set of starters with 21 points as Minnesota won for the first time in Dallas since March 19, 2014.
Trail Blazers at Kings: Late
Pelicans at Nuggets: Late
Suns at Lakers: Late
NBA notes
Grizzlies: Point guard Mike Conley is out indefinitely with a sore left heel and Achilles tendon, leaving Mario Chalmers to start in his place at least for now. The Grizzlies have no timetable for Conley’s return.
Cavaliers: Starting point guard Derrick Rose will miss at least the next two weeks with a nagging left ankle injury. Rose injured the ankle Oct. 20 at Milwaukee and has missed Cleveland’s past four games.
Rockets: James Harden scored 48 points — 23 in the second quarter during Houston’s 90-point first half — in Thursday’s 142-116 win at Phoenix. The Rockets matched the second-most points in a first half in NBA history.