Injury Notes: Foles, Ansah, Badgley
Nick Foles, who remains out indefinitely due to a broken left clavicle bone that was suffered last week against the Chiefs, had surgery this past Monday. During the procedure, Foles had plate and screws utilized while fixing the clavicle to ensure long-term health, and a source said it was a clean, straight-forward break, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
In preparation for his return, Foles will have multiple scans before setting foot on the field, with all parties wary of a re-break. Assuming everything heals properly, he’ll begin practicing the week before the Houston game in Week 9, then have the bye, then be back with the Jaguars Week 11.
Filling in for Foles is rookie Gardner Minshaw, who was named the league’s Rookie of the Week for his admirable performance against the Chiefs last week. Minshaw will remain the starter for the foreseeable future.
Lets’ check out some more injury notes from around the NFL:
- Seahawks defensive end Ezekiel Ansah is not playing today against the Steelers, but is fully expected to make his return next week against the Saints, tweets Rapaport. Ansah, who was originally expected to be ready for Week 1, is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
- Chargers kicker Michael Badgley is not playing today against the Lions, but is expected to return next week against the Texans, tweets Rapaport. Badgley, who is battling a groin injury that he suffered during Friday’s practice last week, was signed last year to replace veteran Caleb Sturgis.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Maurice Canady
- Waived: T Greg Senat
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Cedrick Wilson
- Waived: LB Chris Covington
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: T Jake Rodgers
- Waived: OL Corey Levin
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Andre Patton
- Waived: LB Chris Peace
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Devante Downs
- Waived: CB Mark Fields
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jeff Wilson
- Waived: TE Kaden Smith
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Robert Davis
Mike Williams A Game-Time Decision
- Mike Williams played 16 games last season after an injury-plagued rookie year, but the 2017 top-10 pick has run into knee trouble. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said (via ESPN.com’s Eric Williams, on Twitter) the wideout starter will be a game-time decision against the Lions. The Bolts are thinner at receiver than they were last season, with Tyrell Williams having defected to the Raiders. But they still have Travis Benjamin, however, and brought back Dontrelle Inman. Both backups have contributed to Chargers aerial success during their time in southern California.
- Who would say no if the Chargers and Redskins discussed a swap of holdout talents? The Chargers are not expected to have Melvin Gordon until at least midway through the season, and Trent Williams has shown no signs of ending his holdout. The latter has shown no interest in playing for the Redskins again, however, while Gordon is open to suiting up in Los Angeles this season. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explores this hypothetical, which would include the left tackle-deficient Bolts acquiring a player with two years left on his deal. One season remains on Gordon’s rookie pact, which the Chargers are no longer renegotiating.
Melvin Gordon Still Wants To Play For Chargers
Melvin Gordon will continue to “protect himself” with his holdout, but he “still wants to be a Charger,” a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). This won’t be a “Le’Veon Bell situation,” the source added, so we can still expect to see Gordon back on the field at some point in 2019. 
At this stage, a mid-season or early November return is looking likely, Fowler hears. In the interim, Gordon figures to play on the $5.6MM fifth-year option of his deal, though he’ll be docked 1/17th for each week he misses. So far, he’s down about $660K for Weeks 1 and 2.
Gordon surely wants to play football, but he has other reasons for wanting to get back on the gridiron. Namely – he must report before Week 10 in order to qualify for free agency next season.
Earlier this month, the Eagles expressed interest in Gordon and gave the Bolts a lowball offer for the ages. In theory, the Chargers could still trade the touchdown machine, but for now, they seem willing to wait things out. Here’s what we do know – the Chargers are unwilling to give Gordon an extension in 2019.
For now, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson will share backfield duties in L.A.
AFC West Notes: Bolts, Gates, Rivers, Chiefs
Despite losing Hunter Henry to yet another serious injury, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn did not seem optimistic on a potential reunion with Antonio Gates, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN. “I have not been in contact with Antonio,” Lynn said. “I’m not sure what his situation is.”
After Henry’s injury last year, Gates was brought back to the only organization he’s ever known, serving mostly in a backup role. Appearing in all 16 games for the Chargers, Gates totaled 28 receptions for 333 yards, with only two touchdowns.
In the interim, the Chargers seem content with expanding the roles of tight ends Virgil Green and Sean Culkin while Henry recovers from his injury. Green is coming off a lackluster 2018 campaign, where he hauled in 19 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown, while appearing in all 16 games for the Chargers. Despite this, he is expected to start, with Culkin serving in a back up role.
Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- For the second straight day, wide receiver Mike Williams was absent from Chargers practice, and is not looking good for Sunday’s game against the Lions, according to Eric D. Williams. Lynn has been concerned about the knee of Mike Williams, and another missed practice tomorrow would not bode well for his chances of suiting up this weekend.
- On the most recent edition of the RapSheet + Friends Podcast, quarterback Philip Rivers spoke with NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport about a number of topics, including his current contract. “I really just feel at peace about that. Tom [Telesco] and I had really good conversations throughout the last couple months. I think it’s sincere, the both of us, really desire I’m still a Charger in 2020,” Rivers told Rapoport. “I think that sincerity will make it all work out. Had it worked out before the regular season got started, I’d have been fine with it, but it didn’t. Shoot, hey let’s just wait and it kinda worked best for both sides to do that. I really feel good about it. I’m in a good place.” Rivers is in the final year of a four-year, $83.25 million contract extension he signed in August 2015.
- In an effort to create cap space, Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher‘s contract was restructured, which included the conversion of his $9.54MM base salary to a fully guaranteed roster bonus that will be prorated from 2019 to 2021, dropping his 2019 cap hit to about $6.4MM, according to Yahoo Sports’ Terez A. Paylor. Paylor also reports that linebacker Anthony Hitchens‘ restructure, which included the conversion of $5.6MM of his base salary to a fully guaranteed roster bonus that will also be prorated from 2019 to 2022, created roughly $4.2MM in cap room.
Chargers Place Trevor Williams On IR
The Chargers swapped out cornerbacks Wednesday, signing Dontae Johnson and placing Trevor Williams on IR. Williams represents the latest injury loss for the again-malady-plagued Bolts.
Williams was looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2018 campaign, where he missed seven games due to a knee injury. The Chargers tendered Williams as an RFA back in March, but a quadriceps injury limited him and will force him to IR. A UDFA out of Penn State, Williams started 15 Chargers games in 2017.
The fourth-year defender must miss a minimum of eight games before potentially returning, though one of the Bolts’ two IR-return spots is essentially spoken for. Derwin James is expected to return at some point in the regular season’s second half.
A 2014 49ers fourth-round pick, Johnson spent four years in San Francisco. He played in 63 games (22 starts) for the 49ers and caught on with three teams — the Seahawks, Bills and Cardinals — last year but did not see game action. Johnson returned to the 49ers for camp this year, but despite a three-interception preseason, he did not make their 53-man roster.
West Notes: Hawks, Brown, Raiders, Bolts
Pete Carroll said the Seahawks indeed looked into Antonio Brown once the Raiders released him on Saturday, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Carroll said he and GM John Schneider always communicate on potential moves but added, “Not everything is always as it seems and you’ve got check into stuff and figure out what’s going on.” Carroll also gave the impression that a stronger Seahawks pursuit of the four-time All-Pro may not have mattered, indicating Brown was intent on signing with the Patriots. “He was headed to New England. He was going,” Carroll said. The Seahawks and Browns were the two other teams mentioned as interested in Brown.
Now for more from the league’s west divisions:
- More than a year after pleading guilty to insider trading, Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks has still not been sentenced and will not be any time soon, according to Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith. Kendricks’ sentencing, which has already been delayed for nine months, was delayed again and is now scheduled for November 21. Kendricks started for the Seahawks this past Sunday against the Bengals, tallying seven tackles (one for loss).
- Jon Gruden scoffed when asked about Brown’s lawsuit, as Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Authentic relays (Twitter link). “I’m not aware of anything,” Gruden said. “If you want to ask about him you can call his employer.” The civil suit surfaced three days after Brown agreed to terms with the Patriots.
- Adding to the Chargers’ injury woes, Anthony Lynn said today that he is concerned about the knee of wide receiver Mike Williams, ESPN’s Adam Schefter relays (Twitter link). Earlier today, it was reported that tight end Hunter Henry had suffered a tibia fracture to his left knee and would be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. The Bolts are already without starting left tackle Russell Okung and All-Pro safety Derwin James. Williams dealt with injury trouble as a rookie but played in 16 games last season.
- Seahawks first-round pick L.J. Collier returned to practice today for the first time since spraining his ankle early in camp. Carroll said the TCU defensive end product has a chance to make his debut Sunday against the Steelers, Henderson adds. The Seahawks stand to have their entire defensive line healthy soon, with Ziggy Ansah also on the verge of making his Seattle debut. Ansah was limited Wednesday.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/11/19
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Andre Chachere, TE Darrell Daniels
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
Houston Texans
- Signed: DB Cornell Armstrong
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Bruce Anderson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, DB Tevaughn Campbell, WR Anthony Johnson
- Cut: LB Curtis Akins, DB Kemon Hall
- Placed on practice squad IR: WR Artavis Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR T.J. Rahming
- Cut: LB Christian Sam
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks
- Cut: OL Colby Gossett
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Alex Ellis
Chargers Work Out TEs Will Tye, Ben Koyack
Hunter Henry‘s latest injury represents yet another early-season setback for perhaps the NFL’s clubhouse leaders for this type of obstacle. The Chargers are at work trying to add to their tight end contingent.
In addition to auditioning Luke Willson, the Bolts brought in veterans Will Tye and Ben Koyack, per the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).
A former Giant, Tye last played in 2017. Koyack, a seventh-round Jaguars pick in 2016, has not caught a pass since the 2017 season. Tye, however, surpassed 40 receptions with the 2015 and ’16 Giants editions. The Chargers have Virgil Green and third-year UDFA Sean Culkin on their roster. The team has yet to place Henry on IR, though his timetable may end up requiring that — as it did last year.
Another Antonio Gates reunion has yet to be reported as a possible Bolts plan of action, but that would be a natural fit given the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer’s experience with the franchise and rapport with Philip Rivers. The Chargers brought back Gates last year after Henry’s ACL tear, and Henry returned in time for Los Angeles’ divisional playoff game.
The Bolts also worked out defensive backs Dontae Johnson and Tevaughn Campbell, along with wide receiver Anthony Johnson.
Hunter Henry Out Indefinitely With Knee Injury
Chargers TE Hunter Henry has suffered a tibia plateau fracture to his left knee, Eric Williams of ESPN relays (Twitter link). Henry suffered the injury during Sunday’s contest against the Colts.
The tight end will continue to be evaluated and the timeline for his return has not yet been set. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Chargers believe Henry will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
Los Angeles worked out Luke Wilson today, which makes sense given Henry’s ailment. Last season, Henry suffered an ACL injury and missed the entire season, which prompted the franchise to pry Antonio Gates out of retirement.