Colt McCoy has been given the go-ahead by team doctors, meaning he'll start over Robert Griffin III this Sunday when Washington takes on the New York Giants. McCoy, who has been battling a neck injury, received medical clearance on Friday, according to ESPN's John Keim.
Colt McCoy cleared to start; Ryan Mathews questionable
McCoy’s clean bill of health means no RGIII this weekend, and the Chargers are dealing with yet another injury to their feature back.
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McCoy's status has been up in the air since he was clubbed in the neck by St. Louis Rams defender Robert Quinn last Sunday. McCoy remained in the game after the injury, but was eventually replaced by RGIII late in the 24-0 loss, sparking another round of quarterback speculation in the nation's capital.
But head coach Jay Gruden, who reportedly doesn’t think Griffin fits his offensive system, came out in ardent support of McCoy, insisting that the former Texas Longhorns star would start if he was healthy.
Drew Stanton could miss time
Bruce Arians has termed the status of his injured quarterback as "day-to-day," but a medical consultant told Pro Football Talk that the sprained ACL and Grade 2 MCL sprain Stanton suffered on Thursday night typically means missed time. Sunday Night Football Sports Medicine Consultant Mike Ryan said he would not be surprised if the injury kept the Arizona Cardinals quarterback out next Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks.
“Because of the extremely important role of the ACL with football players, even a partial tear or sprain of the ligament still leaves the knee ACL deficient,” Ryan explained. “With the tear, the ACL is less stable with more motion putting additional stress on the other ligaments, meniscus and articular cartilage of the knee.
“It’s like loosening up the shoelaces of a sneaker. The sneaker may not fall off but clearly the ankle will not be as stable as it was with tight laces.”
Ryan Mathews questionable after missing third straight practice
Mathews' injury woes continue. The San Diego Chargers running back, beset with yet another lower body issue, missed his third practice of the week on Friday and is listed as questionable on the team's official injury report.
Mathews suffered an ankle injury during a Week 14 loss to the New England Patriots. After playing a full 16-game schedule for the first time in his five-year career last season, the running back's injury issues have returned with a vengeance in 2014. If he can't go Sunday in a critical showdown with the Denver Broncos, it will be the eighth game Mathews has missed due to injury this season.
Jamaal Charles should be good to go
The news for the Kansas City Chiefs' star running back is considerably more optimistic. Head coach Andy Reid told ChiefsDigest.com that he expects to have full use out of Charles against the Oakland Raiders this Sunday.
Knee and ankle issues kept Charles on the sideline Wednesday, but he returned to the practice field on both Thursday and Friday. The Chiefs are in a dog fight for a playoff spot, and they can’t afford to rest Charles, even against the lowly Raiders. Remember, Oakland scored a major upset over Kansas City just three weeks ago.
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