NFL Player News

The Chargers listed 16 players on their final injury report leading up to Week 6 at Oakland. Running backs Donald Brown (concussion) and Ryan Mathews (knee), along with linebacker Manti Te'o (foot) and cornerback Shareece Wright (knee) were ruled out for Sunday.

Deemed questionable were the following players: wide receiver Malcom Floyd (calf), tackle D.J. Fluker (ankle), outside linebackers Jarret Johnson (back, ankle) and Cordarro Law (ankle), offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger (back), safety Darrell Stuckey (quad) and linebacker Reggie Walker (ankle).

Wide receiver Keenan Allen (quad), outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (hamstring) and Dwight Freeney (knee), inside linebacker Donald Butler (shoulder) and tight end David Johnson (knee, shoulder) were the only players ruled probable for the game.

With Donald Brown (concussion) and Ryan Mathews (knee) officially ruled out for Week 6, Chargers running back Branden Oliver will likely get the starting nod at Oakland on Sunday. Oliver rushed for 114 yards on 19 carries and caught four passes for 33 yards in relief duty in Week 5.

As expected, the Chargers officially ruled running backs Donald Brown and Ryan Mathews out for Week 6 at Oakland, the team announced. Brown suffered a concussion in Week 5 and has yet to pass the league's concussion protocol. Mathews is working his way back from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 2. He could be a few weeks away from returning to action.

Broncos head coach John Fox officially ruled running back Montee Ball out for Week 6 at N.Y. Jets due to a groin injury, according to ESPN. Ball could be sidelined at least four games due to the injury. Ronnie Hillman will serve as the featured back, with C.J. Anderson likely earning some reps as well.

Outside of Toby Gerhart (foot), the Jaguars enter Week 6 at Tennessee relatively healthy. Gerhart was the only play on the final injury report ruled out for Sunday.

The following players have been ruled probable: Storm Johnson (ankle), Marqise Lee (hamstring), Cecil Shorts III (hamstring), Allen Hurns (foot), Clay Harbor (back), Ryan Davis (shoulder), Dwayne Gratz (head), Roy Miller (ankle), Paul Posluszny (knee) and Dekoda Watson (shoulder).

Jaguars running back Toby Gerhart was unable to practice Friday and was officially ruled out for Week 6 at Tennessee, the team announced. Gerhart has been bothered by a foot issue since the start of the season. The team will likely turn to Storm Johnson, Jordan Todman and Denard Robinson on Sunday, per ESPN.

Colts running back Trent Richardson scored his second touchdown of the season Thursday night against the Texans in Week 6.

Richardson barreled his way into the end zone from 5 yards out on the second offensive series of the night. He didn't do much else the rest of the way. He racked up a team-high 41 rushing yards and a score on 17 attempts, averaging 2.4 yards per carry. He has a pair of rushing touchdowns over the last two games. Richardson has rushed for 281 yards through the first six games of the season.

The Colts will host the Bengals in Week 7.

With Carson Palmer (shoulder) and Drew Stanton (concussion) looking unlikely for Week 6 against Washington, the Cardinals may be forced to start third-string quarterback Logan Thomas, who completed just one of his eight passes in relief of Stanton last week.

Of course, that one completion was an 81-yard catch-and-run for Andre Ellington, who may be the one Cardinal to benefit from the team's quarterback woes.

True, it could work against him if the defense stacks the box because it doesn't fear the pass, but Ellington isn't strictly a runner, as he showed in Week 5. He may have one of those games where he averages 2.5 yards per carry but gets another 80 yards on the receiving end with Thomas reluctant to throw the ball downfield. If that's what happens, you'll like his Fantasy numbers in the end.

Because the Redskins defense doesn't stand out in any way -- they're middle-of-the-road against both the pass and the run -- you can afford to be an optimist with Ellington this week.

Vikings wideout Cordarrelle Patterson was limited Thursday due to a hip injury.

Despite the issue, Patterson said he feels fine. He left Thursday's game due to a hip injury, and was limited to just two catches. Though his practice status has been less than optimal, Patterson has indicated that he'll play Week 6. 

The Vikings want to get wideout Cordarrelle Patterson more involved in the offense, according to 1500 ESPN.

Patterson scored on a rushing touchdown Week 1, but has been shut out in the team's last four contests. He admitted that he needs to get better in order to receive more work. I'm not at where I need to be," Patterson said. "There's always a bump in the road for everyone...I'm trying to work harder."

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said the team was "anxious" to get the ball in Patterson's hands more often, and said they would continue to try and make it happen. He added that Patterson needs to take advantages of situations were he's covered by one defender.

Patterson hasn't complained about his workload yet, but said he might have to if things continue. "In junior college, I was a drama queen," Patterson said. "I demanded the ball and it paid off for me. If things keep going like this, I may have to be that drama queen one time."