Jamaal Charles To Play On Sunday
After missing all of September, Jamaal Charles is ready to make his 2016 debut. Despite being listed as questionable, the running back will suit up for the Chiefs on Sunday night against the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
Charles tore his ACL roughly one year ago, ending his season after just five games. Fortunately, the Chiefs have managed to get by with Spencer Ware in the primary role at tailback as he has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in three games this year. Still, he is not as dynamic of a runner as a healthy Charles. The 29-year-old has four Pro Bowl selections to his credit, plus two All-Pro nods.
In five games last year, Charles looked to be on his way to another stellar season with 5.1 yards per carry, four rushing touchdowns, plus 21 catches for 177 yards and a receiving TD. Entering his ninth NFL season, Charles is out to show that he can get back to his old form after major surgery.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
J.J. Watt Officially Ruled Out For Season
It’s official – J.J. Watt has been ruled out for the rest of the 2016 season. This morning, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters that Watt will not be able to return at any point this season after undergoing back surgery. 
[RELATED: Texans Take Play Calling Duties From Godsey]
Watt was placed on IR earlier this week thanks to his troublesome back and there was some hope that he could return to the team in two months thanks to the league’s new IR rules. Unsurprisingly, Watt will need much more than eight weeks to heal up.
Of course, this is devastating news for the Texans, especially as they are coming off of 27-0 drumming at the hands of the Patriots. The Texans have talent elsewhere in the front seven, but their defense simply won’t be the same without Watt there as the anchor.
Watt earned Pro Bowl trips and first-team All-Pro honors in every season from 2012-2015. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner also nabbed that honor in back-to-back seasons. Since going 11th overall in the 2011 draft, Watt has racked up 76 sacks, 45 passes defended, and 15 forced fumbles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Browns To Part Ways With Josh Gordon
It appears that Josh Gordon has played his final snap for the Browns. Cleveland intends to part ways with Gordon after his latest setback has him going back to rehab, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. 
[RELATED: Josh Gordon To Enter Rehab]
Gordon was set to return to the Browns after sitting out the first four games of this season, but he announced yesterday that he is stepping away from football for the time being in order to enter an in-patient rehab facility. Gordon is one of the most talented receivers in the game today, but he can’t be much use to the Browns if he is not able to take the field. The Browns have been patient with the troubled athlete for a long time, but they say that they feel that they can no longer wait for him to get his act together.
This will be Gordon’s second rehab stint of 2016 as he also reportedly entered rehab during the offseason. It’s possible that Gordon violated the substance abuse policy again and that would result in more discipline from the league office.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jets’ Decker Suffers Partially Torn Rotator Cuff
Jets wide receiver Eric Decker has suffered a partially torn rotator cuff, as Daniel Popper of the Daily News writes. Decker is officially out for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, according to coach Todd Bowles. 
[RELATED: Jets Re-Sign WR/KR Jeremy Ross]
Decker will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis and it’s not yet known whether he will undergo surgery. If Decker goes under the knife, it stands to reason that he would be a candidate for IR, though the new rules would allow for him to return in two months. After the Jets’ offense fizzled against the Chiefs on Sunday, they’re certainly hoping that they won’t be without Decker for an extended period of time.
Decker, 29, enjoyed his best season as a Jet last year, catching 80 passes for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns. Through three games this year, Decker has nine receptions for 194 yards and two scores.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Sammy Watkins
The Bills have ruled Sammy Watkins out for Sunday’s game, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Structurally his foot is fine, but it comes down to a pain management issue and doctors believe that rest should help. Meanwhile, it’s not exactly clear when Watkins will take the field again. coach Rex Ryan says there is “major concern” over Watkins’ availability moving forward this season (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). 
Watkins is no stranger to injuries, but he has toughed it out for the most part. Last year, Watkins missed only three games due to injury despite being banged up for the entire year. In 2014, Watkins was on the field for every regular season game. Now, the pain is too much to play through and the Bills aren’t quite sure when their best offensive weapon will be able to suit up. What the Bills do know is that Watkins won’t be on the field Sunday afternoon against the rival Patriots.
This year, Watkins has six receptions for 63 yards in two games played. In his 13-game season, Watkins hauled in 60 passes for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns in his shortened season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pigskin Links: Wentz, Eagles, Cutler
Here at Pro Football Rumors, we deliver up-to-the-minute news on NFL transactions and high-quality original analysis. Each week, we also feature some of the best blog articles from around the web in our regular feature, Pigskin Links.
We’re looking for interesting reads on all things football from blogs of all sizes. While PFR is dedicated to player movement, Pigskin Links is open to pieces on all areas of the game. If you would like to suggest your blog post (or someone else’s) for Pigskin Links, send us an email with the link and a brief synopsis at PigskinLinks@gmail.com.
Here’s this week’s look around the football blogosphere:
- The Inscriber says Carson Wentz makes it fun to be an Eagles fan again.
- HBT Sports discussed Jay Cutler‘s time in Chicago.
- Wayniac Nation peeked in the NFL’s cellar.
- Sports Mockery bashes John Fox‘s history of drafting quarterbacks.
- Cup Of Joe In The D made picks for Week 4.
- Sports Central has Week 4 picks with fake quotes.
Got a great football blog post that you want to see featured in next week’s Pigskin Links? Email it to Zach or tweet it to him: @ZachLinks.
Texans Take Play Calling Duties From Godsey
The Texans have taken play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator George Godsey, as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. Head coach Bill O’Brien will now call the plays. 
[RELATED: J.J. Watt Undergoes Back Surgery]
O’Brien called the Texans’ plays when he joined the team in 2014. Last year, he handed those responsibilities to Godsey when he was bumped up from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.
Godsey remains on staff, but this probably doesn’t bode well for his long-term job security in Houston. The Texans are understandably frustrated with their offensive production, especially considering the money spent on new quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Lamar Miller. Big things were expected from the Texans’ offense this year but, through three weeks, they have looked pretty flat. The 27-0 shutout at the hands of the Patriots last Thursday likely spurred this week’s big change.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Practice Squad Updates: 9/29/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Marcus Ball (Twitter link via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer)
New York Giants
- Signed: G Jon Halapio (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN)
Randy Gregory Suspended Until Week 16
Randy Gregory has officially been hit with a ten-game suspension. The league announced that Gregory will not be eligible to return until Week 16 after having a ten-game ban tacked on to his existing punishment. 
[RELATED: Dez Bryant Unlikely To Play Sunday?]
Of course, it’s not a given that Gregory will be in shape to return for the end of the season. At this point, Gregory has been off the field for some time and his substance issues cannot bode well for his overall conditioning. However, those close to the defensive end say that he has been clean for four months and is doing well.
As a rookie, Gregory was in uniform 12 contests and missed a good chunk of games due to an ankle injury. In total, he had 11 sacks. In the long run, the Cowboys are hoping that Gregory can fulfill his vast potential, but he’ll have to get his life together if he hopes to make that a reality.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Steelers Activate Le’Veon Bell
As expected, the Steelers have activated running back Le’Veon Bell to the 53-man roster (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). In a corresponding move, running back Daryl Richardson has been released, as Mark Kaboly of DKPittsburghSports.com tweets. 
The Steelers got a roster exemption for Bell this week, giving them until this afternoon. Bell, of course, was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Typically, that would carry a four-game ban, but Bell had the suspension bumped down to three games upon appeal. In his stead, veteran DeAngelo Williams has been exceptional running for more than 250 yards and two touchdowns on 66 carries with 14 receptions.
As good as Williams has been, the Steelers are obviously excited to have Bell back in the lineup. In Bell’s six game campaign last year, he averaged a career-best 4.9 yards per carry with 24 catches for 136 yards. With both Bell and Williams incorporated in the offense, the Steelers will look to get back on track when they face the Chiefs on Sunday night.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.