Whether you are a Chargers fan or not, you may have heard about the news that Keenan Allen will not play this season. The reason is that Allen has a shoulder injury that has left him sidelined. He is expected to undergo surgery and may miss the entire season. However, the Chargers have other options to keep the team moving forward if Allen is unable to play.
Jerry Attaochu could make his NFL debut
During the 2014 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers chose Jerry Attaochu in the second round. After dealing with a hamstring injury early in the season, Attaochu has been healthy for the past few weeks. Now, the Chargers are hoping that Attaochu can make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Lions.
The Chargers’ injury report is filled with a lot of players that are not expected to play this week. Among the players that were not in practice this past weekend are: Josh Allen, Khalil Mack, Keenan Allen, Adoree’ Jackson, Dontrelle Inman, and Rayshawn Jenkins.
On the other hand, the Chargers have made some adjustments to their offensive line, with Melvin Gordon returning from a major injury last season and Joe Barksdale moving to RT. In addition, Gus Bradley has restructured the defensive line, moving Joey Bosa to DE.
The Chargers are also expected to return Melvin Ingram to the defensive line, after he ruled out a hamstring injury. In addition, Chris McCain has been a steady edge defender.
Josh Palmer leads the way if Allen misses
Despite a slew of injuries, the Arizona Cardinals are expected to perform well on the field. However, the team’s defense will be tested in its own right. This means that a number of important players will be sidelined, including Mike Williams (high ankle sprain), and Gerald Everett (shoulder injury). In addition, Deebo Samuel has been cleared to return. While this means that the Cardinals should be favored over the Chargers in Week 10, it also means that the Bolts should be considered underdogs in fantasy football. This is not to say that the Bolts are without hope, however, as they have been able to outscore their opponents by a combined ten points in each of their past two games.
The Arizona Cardinals are known for their stout defense, but they are also susceptible to the run. In fact, the Cardinals are giving up 4.62 yards per carry to RBs, which is the fifth worst mark in the NFL.
Jameis Winston should start at Buffalo
Whether or not Jameis Winston will start against the Buffalo Bills is uncertain. The Saints head coach, Dennis Allen, wants his quarterback to be completely healthy before taking the field. He also says he will not rush Winston onto the field.
The Saints lost two of their first three games, and Winston has not played to his full potential. The team has lost three fumbles, five interceptions, and completed just 63 percent of his passes. The offense has yet to be shut out in the end zone. Winston has thrown for 858 passing yards in the Saints’ first three games. He has completed two touchdown passes in each of those games, but he has yet to produce a game-winning drive.
Obviously, you can’t go with a quarterback who hasn’t played in two weeks, but it’s not a bad idea to look into the upside of some younger players. A lot of players on the depth chart are jockeying for positions, and younger players have a chance to earn a spot in the first-string lineup.
Chargers’ plans moving forward
Despite missing his fourth game of the season, wide receiver Keenan Allen is not officially out for the San Diego Chargers’ Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The team’s head coach, Chan Staley, said Allen is “50-50” for the game and he has not yet been declared out for the season.
Allen is the Chargers’ premier route runner and the team’s top receiver. He has at least 95 receptions in each of the past five seasons, and the team is hoping he can return to form in Week 7.
Allen had six catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ Week 9 win over the Raiders. He had a big third-down catch on a deep dig when he was on third-and-8 from the Chargers’ 22-yard line. He beat cornerback Cary Williams with a sliding catch for an 18-yard gain.
Allen has caught at least three passes in three straight games against Denver. Allen is the only receiver in the NFL to have at least three catches and a touchdown in three straight games. Allen also had a 59-yard catch against the Giants in Week 7.
The Chargers are hopeful that Allen will play in Week 6 against Seattle, but his status is uncertain. He has a re-aggravated hamstring injury. In Week 7, Allen was limited to 32% of the snaps.
