Chargers rule out Keenan Allen, 5 others vs. Falcons
COSTA MESA — Justin Herbert is about to get a crash course in playing a game without his top two receivers.
The Los Angeles Chargers ruled out Keenan Allen for Sunday’s game at Atlanta due to continuing problems with his hamstring. Allen said he experienced a setback last week while doing a workout and didn’t practice all week.
Mike Williams suffered an ankle injury in the Oct. 23 loss to Seattle and is expected to miss at least the next three games.
Joshua Palmer and DeAndre Carter are expected to start in Allen and Williams’ place, but even that isn’t assured. Palmer came out of concussion protocol earlier this week and has been a full participant in practices, but Carter is questionable due to illness.
“It’s just tough losing guys that we think really highly of. We think really highly of the guys behind them and they have done a great job stepping up all throughout camp and all throughout the season, so far,” Herbert said. “We’re going to do our best to get them the ball and hopefully make things happen.”
Michael Bandy and Jason Moore are also on the roster with the possibility that Joe Reed or Keelan Doss could be elevated from the practice squad.
With injuries impacting the receiver group, Austin Ekeler leads NFL running backs with 53 receptions. It is only the third time a running back has at least 50 catches through his team’s first seven games.
Ekeler could become the first running back in NFL history to have three straight games with double-digit receptions if he has at least 10 against the Falcons.
Four more players have also been ruled out, including tight end Donald Parham (hamstring), linebacker Chris Rumph II (knee), kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (back).
With Hopkins and backup Taylor Bertolet both sidelined, Cameron Dicker will handle kicking duties. Dicker will be the 13th kicker used by the Chargers since they moved to Los Angeles in 2017.
Despite the injuries,
the Chargers are 4-3 as they begin a stretch where four of their next five games are on the road.
Titans QB Ryan Tannehill likely game-time decision vs Chiefs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee quarterback Ryan Tannehill practiced in a limited fashion Friday, and coach Mike Vrabel said the veteran likely will be a game-time decision Sunday night when the Titans visit the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Titans (5-2) listed Tannehill as questionable and still have a walk-through Saturday before flying to Kansas City. Tannehill was questionable a week ago before being ruled out ahead of Tennessee’s flight to Houston where rookie Malik Willis got his first NFL start.
Tennessee has an extra seven hours with the Sunday night kickoff against the Chiefs (5-2), which could be an advantage.
Tannehill sprained his right ankle in a win Oct. 23 over Indianapolis and left the stadium that day in a walking boot. He missed last week’s 17-10 win in Houston, snapping the 11-year veteran’s 49-game start streak for Tennessee.
The veteran said Wednesday his mobility while dealing with the pain would be the deciding factor.
With Tannehill staying in Nashville, Willis threw only 10 passes for 55 yards in his NFL debut while being sacked three times. The Titans won by handing off 32 times to twotime NFL rushing champ Derrick Henry, the most carries by a running back in a game this season.
The Titans will be without starting safety Amani Hooker (left shoulder) and fullback Tory Carter (neck).
Jeffery Simmons, a 2021 Pro Bowl defensive tackle, is questionable with a sprained left ankle after not practicing all week. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree is questionable after being added to the injury report with an illness. Defensive lineman Kevin Strong (ankle) also is questionable.
Russell Henley with another 63 opens 3-shot lead at Mayakoba
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Russell Henley is playing so well that even some of his conservative shots wound up close enough for easy birdies. He had another 8-under 63 and opened a three-shot lead Friday in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.
Henley ran off three straight birdies early in his round at El Camaleon, and he capped off another string of three birdies with a bold tee shot to a back pin on the par-3 eighth.
That one might have been an accident.
“I wasn’t trying to hit it back there on No. 8. It just went a little farther than I wanted,” Henley said. “But obviously very happy with the result.”
Henley was at 16-under 126, one short of his career best for the opening 36 holes on the PGA Tour. He shot 125 (62-63) at the Sony Open in Honolulu to start the year, a tournament that ended with Hideki Matsuyama beating him in a playoff.
Henley also had a threeshot lead at the Sony Open. This time, Henley leads over Will Gordon (67) and Sam Ryder (65), each looking for their first PGA Tour title.
Henley is a three-time winner, his last victory coming more than five years ago in the 2017 Houston Open.
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa finally put together a big round with a 63 and was eight behind, while Masters champion Scottie Scheffler had to settle for a 71 that left him 10 shots back.
The cut was at 4-under 138, a 12-shot differential from top to bottom, which was more about the quality of Henley’s play.
Ueda holds 1-shot lead in Toto Classic after 2nd round
SHIGA, Japan — Motoko Ueda had a 3-under 69 Friday to hold a one-shot lead after the second round of the LPGA’s Toto Classic.
Ueda, who was won this event twice, was 10-under and a shot clear of fellow Japanese players Miyu Yamashita and Ai Suzuki. Yamashita carded a 68 and Suzuki had a 70.
Ueda was not happy about her round after opening on Thursday with a 65.
“My tee shots and putts were not so good compared with yesterday,” she said. “I was thinking during the round that it’s going to be a tough day.”