NFL Player News

As expected, Broncos kicker Brandon McManus was deemed active for Thursday night's clash at home against the Chargers. McManus wasn't able to practice Monday and Tuesday because of a right groin injury, but was a full participant in practice Wednesday. He has converted 6 of 7 field goal attempts this season, two of which have come from 40-plus yards.

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said he called out kicker Caleb Sturgis during a team meeting for missing a pair of field goals during a win Week 7 at Chicago, according to The Miami Herald.

"We were in the team meeting today and we said we’ve got to make those field goals," Philbin said. "We kind of went through that sequence where we took a sack and knocked ourselves back, and made the field goal more difficult. That being said, I said to him right there in the whole team meeting, we’ve got to make those field goals. He knows that and I suspect that he will work at it and he’ll get better at it."

Sturgis is connecting on 78.6 percent of his field goals (11 of 14) after converting at a 76.5 percent rate (26 of 34) as a rookie in 2013.

Broncos kicker Brandon McManus did not practice Tuesday due to a groin injury, but coach John Fox doesn't seem worried about McManus' availability for Thursday's game against the Chargers, reports ESPN.com. "See what tomorrow brings," Fox said. "I'm sure he'll be good to go."

Broncos kicker Brandon McManus didn't receive a field-goal attempt Sunday but kicked six extra points in his team's 42-17 thrashing of the 49ers in Week 7.

McManus watched Peyton Manning march the offense up and down the field over the first three quarters of the game, and backup Brock Osweiler wasn't able to lead the team into scoring position once he took over in the fourth quarter. McManus has received more than one field-goal attempt just once this season. He and the Broncos will face the Chargers in Week 8.

Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos made all three of his field-goal attempts Sunday, including a career-high 48-yard kick with less than a minute left, in his team's 23-20 win over the Chargers in Wek 7.

Santos, who added two extra points on the day, hit field goals from 28 and 40 yards out earlier in the game before being called upon to break a tie with 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter. He delivered, giving the Chiefs a big divisional win. Santos has made eight of his 10 field-goal attempts this season. The Chiefs face the Rams in Week 8.

Panthers kicker Graham Gano registered only five points in a Week 7 defeat at Green Bay on Sunday.

Gano knocked down a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter for his only kick of the afternoon. He went 1 for 1 in field goal attempts and added two extra points in a 38-17 defeat. He has converted 12 of 14 field goals on the year.

Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis scored nine points despite missing a pair of field goals in a Week 7 victory over the Bears on Sunday.

Sturgis knocked down kicks from 33 and 13 yards out in the fourth quarter. He hooked a 50-yard kick wide right in the opening quarter and had a 37-yard attempt blocked by Lamarr Houston in the fourth quarter. He went 2 for 4 with three extra points in a 27-14 victory.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker finished with nine points during a 29-7 win Week 7 vs. Atlanta. Tucker made a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter. He converted three extra points.

Tucker has managed at least seven points in all but one game this season. The Ravens are back in action Week 8 at Cincinnati.

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant was held to a season-worst one-point performance during a 29-7 loss Week 7 at Baltimore. 

Bryant missed his only field-goal attempt on a 57-yarder with 42 seconds left in the second quarter. Bryant hit the crossbar.

He made his only extra point after Roddy White's fourth-quarter touchdown reception. Bryant's previous season low was four points, which he managed twice.

The Falcons are back in action Week 8 vs. Detroit.

The Broncos have listed the following players as inactive for Sunday night's game against the 49ers: running back Montee Ball (groin), wide receiver Cody Latimer, cornerback Tony Carter, linebacker Shaquil Barrett, guard Ben Garland, tackle Michael Schofield and defensive tackle Mitch Unrein.

The Broncos are very healthy heading into Week 7, with Ball the only player on the active roster missing the game due to injury. All the team's players listed as probable on the final injury report are active, including running back Juwan Thompson (knee), linebacker Corey Nelson (hamstring), kicker Brandon McManus (groin) and defensive backs Omar Bolden (groin), David Bruton (ankle) and Chris Harris (knee).