Team news: Los Angeles Chargers | Page 2

Wide receiver Keenan Allen may not be available for Giff Smith’s debut as the Chargers interim head coach.

Allen did not play in Brandon Staley’s final game as the team’s head coach because of a heel injury and he did not practice on Tuesday for the same reason.

Related players: Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton

The Chargers will host the Bills on Saturday night, and owners should at least have plenty of notice for a backup plan if Allen doesn't play. As we said last week, the Bolts have no reason to rush Allen back into their lineup. Palmer could be a replacement option if he's on your wire, and had a big game in Week 15. However, the Chargers trailed the Raiders and had nothing to lose on the offensive side. The Bills proved to be a tough matchup against the Cowboys in Week 15 against the Cowboys.

The Ravens have made it official with running back Melvin Gordon.

Baltimore announced on Tuesday that the club has signed Gordon to its 53-man roster.

Related players: Gus Edwards, Justice Hill

Gordon technically replaces Keaton Mitchell on the Ravens’ 53, as he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL during the team’s victory over Jacksonville on Sunday. Gordon has appeared in two games for Baltimore this season, taking 13 carries for 53 yards. He also caught three passes for 46 yards. Gordon will likely run behind Edwards and Hill but does have those 16 touches in two games so it's possible he jumps right into the three-man committee.

According to TheAthletic.com, the Falcons will be starting Taylor Heinicke against the Colts. It would be the second time that Smith and the Falcons have benched Ridder in favor of Heinicke this season.

Related players: Desmond Ridder

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said on Monday that he was considering a quarterback change after the team fell to 6-8 with a 9-7 loss to the Panthers. Smith said following the bye he wanted to stick with Ridder after previously going back and forth over a span of a few weeks. But the Falcons will again make a switch after Ridder threw a terrible INT on a potential game-winning drive in what was a must-win game against the Panthers.

Arthur Smith said at a Monday press conference that he is still considering what direction to go at quarterback for their Week 16 matchup with the Colts. Logan Woodside is also on the roster, but Smith said that Taylor Heinicke is the only choice other than Desmond Ridder for this week.

Following their bye, the team went back to Ridder because they didn't want to keep switching QBs week-to-week. But as the story said, Ridder threw a brutal interception at a key point in the game and that may be enough for the team to make yet another change. We'll hopefully know more by Wednesday.

The Chargers signed QB Will Grier off the Patriots' practice squad, per source.

The first significant move by interim GM JoJo Wooden.

Related players: Easton Stick, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe

Grier will likely backup Stick, who is coming off a 63-21 thumping where threw three TDs and one INT for collecting 257 yards through the air. On the Patriots side, it looks like their QB carousel is getting smaller as they lose another quarterback after Malik Cunningham signed with the Ravens last week.

Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell’s injury was as serious as it appeared it could be on the field.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters in his press conference following the 23-7 victory over the Jaguars that Mitchell suffered a significant knee injury that will end his 2023 season.

Related players: Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Melvin Gordon

We'll likely get more details on the injury soon, but owners will be without Mitchell for the rest of the season. Mitchell was proving to be quite the find, perhaps especially in dynasty leagues, as he was emerging as the team's lead back and averaging 8.5 yards per carry. The hope now is Mitchell is ready to go for the 2024 season, but that remains to be seen.

The Chargers ruled out WR Keenan Allen for Thursday night vs. the Raiders. A key weapon missing for new starting QB Easton Stick.

Related Players: Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston

The Chargers offense is shaping up to be a full fade outside of Austin Ekeler. Joshua Palmer can be considered for FLEX spots, but this is also his first game action since Week 8.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen (heel) missed his second straight practice on the team’s estimated report.

Related players: Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Jalen Guyton

LA plays on Thursday night against the Raiders. With Justin Herbert out, and Easton Stick in at QB, things could get ugly for the Chargers on offense in Week 15. Palmer is off the IR and could very well serve as the team's WR1 with Johnston and Guyton also in the mix. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, the Chargers really don't have a reason to rush Allen back on the field at this point.

Justin Herbert has played his last snap of the 2023 season.

The Chargers quarterback is out for the season following surgery to repair his fractured index finger on his throwing hand, according to multiple reports.

Related players: Easton Stick

Herbert suffered the injury during the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. The story went on to say head coach Brandon Staley noted on Monday that the team would do what’s best for Herbert and the quarterback’s future. With the Chargers at 5-8 and having little chance to make it to the postseason, it’s clear shutting Herbert down is the right move. It's now Stick season for the Chargers going forward.

Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert is very likely to undergo surgery Tuesday on his fractured right index finger, per source.

Whether Herbert will have any chance to able to return this season will be determined by the surgery, Schefter added. Reports said Herbert would do anything he could to get back on the field this season, but from the Chargers standpoint - sitting at 5-8 on the season - there isn't much need to rush Herbert back.