The Oklahoman

Chargers' Okung to make season debut

- Wire reports

Left tackle Russell Okung will make his season debut for the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Chicago.

Coach Anthony Lynn announced the decision Wednesday on the former Oklahoma State standout, who has been out all season recovering from a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots.

Okung returned to practice last week with the Chargers, who have lost three straight with a struggling rushing game.

Lynn says Okung probably won't play the entire game against the Bears.

Saints' Brees says playing against Cardinals is 'the plan'

Drew Brees says he plans to play Sunday against Arizona unless his form in practice this week does not meet his expectatio­ns.

Brees, who spoke after practice on Wednesday, says he is comfortabl­e throwing an NFL ball now that he is more than five weeks out of surgery on his right thumb. But Brees says he needs to see how accurate and effective he is throwing during competitiv­e team drills this week before he knows for certain that his return is best for the team.

With backup quarterbac­k Teddy Bridge water filling in, the Saints have won all five games Brees has missed since his injury during New Orleans' Week 2 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles.

Patriots place WR Gordon on IR

The Patriots have placed receiver Josh Gordon on injured reserve with knee and ankle injuries.

Gordon suffered the injuries

during New England's win over the Giants in Week 6 and sat out Monday night's win over the Jets.

Gordon's absence will mean the Patriots will now be leaning even more on veteran Mohamed Sanu, acquired in a trade with Atlanta on Tuesday.

This marks the second abbreviate­d season for Gordon, who was among New England' s leading receivers this season. Following a trade from Cleveland last season, he appeared in 11 games for the

Patriots before being suspended indefinite­ly last December for violations of the league's substance abuse policy.

Elsewhere

Chiefs: Coach Andy Reid was unwilling to rule out quarterbac­k

Patrick Mahomes from Kansas City's upcoming game against Green Bay, even though it's been less than a week since the reigning league MVP dislocated his kneecap in a victory in Denver.

Matt Moore will start if Mahomes is out.

Cardinals: Arizona has signed Alfred Morris and Zach Zenner to add depth at the bangedup running back position. Arizona's Chase Edmonds had a career-high 126 rushing yards in Sunday's win over the New York Giants. But the Cardinals' other running backs — David Johnson (ankle) and D.J. Foster (hamstring) — are dealing with injuries.

Falcons: Coach Dan Quinn says quarterbac­k Matt Ryan is hopeful he'll return from a sprained ankle to play against Seattle. As expected, Ryan did not practice Wednesday. Ryan, 34, limped off the field in last week's 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

 ?? [AP PHOTO/DON WRIGHT, FILE] ?? Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung has been out all season recovering from a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots.
[AP PHOTO/DON WRIGHT, FILE] Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung has been out all season recovering from a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots.

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