Chargers ‘hopeful’ RB Austin Ekeler can play against Patriots

COSTA MESA — Chargers manager Brandon Staley didn’t dependable excessively acrophobic astir Austin Ekeler, contempt the moving back’s questionable presumption heading into Sunday’s location crippled against the New England Patriots.

Staley raved astir Ekeler’s show successful Wednesday’s signifier and added that helium wanted to beryllium cautious with Ekeler’s sore hep by resting him the past 2 practices.

“Had a truly high-level signifier and was finishing each tally similar brainsick and conscionable came up a small spot sore aft that,” Staley said astir Ekeler. “It didn’t hap during the practice, but conscionable felt a small spot of soreness successful his hip. But felt overmuch amended the past 2 days and we’re hopeful that helium tin play.

“Had an awesome signifier and stayed aft signifier with (quarterback) Justin (Herbert). He felt a small sore, truthful we conscionable wanted to beryllium cautious with him the adjacent 2 days, truthful hopefully helium tin play.”

Earlier successful the week, Staley and Ekeler challenged the Chargers’ different moving backs to amended their play connected the tract with hopes of 1 of them stepping up and taking power of the No. 2 relation down Ekeler. If Ekeler isn’t astatine afloat spot Sunday, that could supply much snaps for Justin Jackson, Larry Rountree III and Joshua Kelley.

Ekeler leads the squad with 356 rushing yards and Herbert is 2nd with 72 rushing yards. Jackson, Rountree and Kelley person combined for 106 rushing yards this season.

Linebacker Drue Tranquill was besides listed arsenic questionable connected the Chargers’ last wounded report. He missed the crippled against the Baltimore Ravens earlier the bye week due to the fact that of a thorax injury.

Defensive tackle Justin Jones returned to signifier this week, but Staley said it’s inactive to beryllium determined whether he’ll beryllium activated to the 53-man roster earlier Sunday. Jones has been connected injured reserve with a calf wounded and hasn’t played since the season-opening triumph against Washington.

“He’s looked good,” Staley said astir Jones. “But we’re conscionable going to marque definite (we get) that last yes and we’ll spell from there. But hopeful that helium tin play.”

DEFENDING MAC

Chargers cornerback Chris Harris Jr. astir apt expected to spot galore mistakes connected movie from Patriots rookie backmost Mac Jones, but that wasn’t the case.

Harris joked that helium didn’t bask watching the movie due to the fact that helium saw galore beardown qualities from Jones, who has recovered his bushed aft an awesome show past week successful a 54-13 triumph against the New York Jets.

“I deliberation for a rookie to travel successful and to larn this (Patriots) discourtesy is precise difficult,” Harris said astir Jones. “To beryllium capable to marque the checks, marque the throws, he’s been capable to bash that. I’m impressed with however he’s playing arsenic a rookie quarterback, and this is decidedly going to beryllium a challenge.

“The Jets, it was benignant of hard to ticker that game. They enactment up 50 points, but each the different games, he’s precise quick. He makes speedy decisions. He’s tried to instrumentality much shots arsenic the play went on.”

Staley referred to Jones arsenic an “outstanding determination maker” and antiaircraft coordinator Renaldo Hill praised the rookie for however he’s operated the Patriots’ offense.

“I deliberation his processor is astatine a premium for a young quarterback,” Staley said. “You tin truly spot that helium tin spot the game. I cognize the mode they play connected offense, they inquire a batch of that position. You tin archer that helium tin process astatine a precocious level due to the fact that of the benignant of plays they’re running. They’re moving a batch of premium-type violative plays that you would deliberation a much experienced backmost would have.”

Jones was the 15th wide prime successful this year’s draft, but helium was selected aft quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence (first), Zach Wilson (second), Trey Lance (third) and Justin Fields (11th).

Jones has been the astir productive rookie backmost this play with a completion percent of 70.4, 1,779 passing yards, 9 touchdowns and six interceptions.

HARRIS WINS COMMUNITY AWARD

Harris was named the Week 8 NFLPA Community MVP aft helium distributed 500 bags of covering and hygiene essentials to those experiencing homelessness successful Southern California.

Harris and his wife, Leah, started the Chris Cares Winter Handout lawsuit successful Denver, wherever Harris played 9 seasons with the Broncos.

Harris, who joined the Chargers past year, partnered with the Salvation Army this twelvemonth to capable the 500 bags with blankets, beanies, socks, mittens and hygiene items.

“It’s a hard clip and conscionable to supply them food, supply them hygiene kits and structure stuff,” Harris said. “So conscionable being capable to marque an impact. Usually maine and my woman are really successful the streets. In Denver, we were capable to really beryllium retired determination progressive successful the streets being capable to interaction those radical and get to cognize those people.

“But you know, coming present during this pandemic has made it hard for us, truthful we’ve conscionable tried to bash it successful antithetic ways successful which we tin beryllium capable to assistance these people.”