The Chargers’ offense should soon be getting some reinforcement.
The Chargers’ offense should soon be getting some reinforcement.
On Monday, Los Angeles designated running back J.K. Dobbins for return from injured reserve. Dobbins has spent the past four weeks on IR after sustaining a knee injury in Week 12 against the Ravens.
Dobbins began practicing with the team on Monday, opening a 21-day window during which he can participate in all team activities without being counted against the 53-man roster.
He may be activated during those three weeks and could return as soon as before this weekend’s game against the Patriots.
Getting Dobbins is huge for an offense that has struggled with efficiency on the ground. In the past three weeks, the Chargers have averaged 81.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 28th in the NFL.
Dobbins has 158 carries for 766 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
The Panthers cut ex-Broncos defensive lineman Jonathan Harris on Monday.
The Carolina Panthers waived defensive lineman Jonathan Harris on Monday, a move that was made in part to open up a spot for an inside linebacker.
Harris (6-5, 295 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Lindenwood with the Chicago Bears in 2019. After being waived by the Bears in October of his rookie season, Harris was picked up by the Denver Broncos.
Harris went on to spend five years in Denver, totaling 80 tackles, six quarterback hits and one sack in 31 games (nine starts) with the Broncos. Harris played all 17 games last fall and posted a career-high 43 tackles and one sack.
Denver opted to let Harris walk during NFL free agency this spring and he signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. After failing to make Miami’s 53-man roster, Harris was signed to their practice squad.
The Panthers signed Harris off the Dolphins’ practice squad to their active roster in October. He appeared in seven games before being cut. If he clears waivers, Harris might be a candidate to return on Carolina’s practice squad.
The #Panthers have waived DE Jonathan Harris, who had the fumble recovery in the first half of Sunday’s overtime win.
Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, the Minnesota Vikings worked out defensive lineman Adam Gotsis and cornerback Michael Ojemudia. Gotsis was picked by Denver in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft and Ojemudia was a third-round pick in 2020.
Jaguars LT Walker Little ruled out vs. Titans in Week 17
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Monday said starting left tackle Walker Little will “probably” miss Jacksonville’s Week 17 home matchup with the Tennessee Titans after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the club’s 19-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Little exited the game on Jacksonville’s first offensive possession. He entered the matchup with an ankle injury that he suffered against the New York Jets but was able to play through.
“Walker looks like he’s going to miss this week. High ankle, so he’ll probably be out,” Pederson said.
Little took over as Jacksonville’s starting left tackle in Week 8 and signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the club on Dec. 1. Since his second-round, No. 45 overall selection by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft, Little has made 55 appearances and 25 starts.
Dec 22, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) celebrates with wide receiver Parker Washington (11) after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
OG Brandon Scherff: 67 (100%)
OG Ezra Cleveland: 67 (100%)
QB Mac Jones: 67 (100%)
C Mitch Morse: 67 (100%)
OT Anton Harrison: 66 (99%)
WR Parker Washington: 64 (94%)
OT Cole Van Lanen: 62 (93%)
WR Brian Thomas Jr.: 60 (90%)
RB Travis Etienne Jr.: 35 (52%)
TE Brenton Strange: 34 (51%)
TE Luke Farrell: 32 (48%)
WR Josh Reynolds: 29 (43%)
WR Devin Duvernay: 21 (31%)
RB Tank Bigsby: 19 (28%)
TE Josiah Deguara: 17 (25%)
RB D’Ernest Johnson: 13 (19%)
OG Blake Hance: 7 (10%)
WR Tim Jones: 6 (9%)
OT Walker Little: 5 (7%)
Jaguars defense
Dec 22, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) scores on a 7-yard touchdown run in the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
CB Montaric Brown: 73 (99%)
S Andre Cisco: 71 (96%)
LB Foyesade Oluokun: 69 (93%)
CB Tyson Campbell: 67 (91%)
S Andrew Wingard: 63 (85%)
LB Devin Lloyd: 60 (81%)
CB Jarrian Jones: 60 (81%)
DE Travon Walker: 56 (76%)
DE Josh Hines-Allen: 49 (66%)
DT Maason Smith: 39 (53%)
DT DaVon Hamilton: 35 (47%)
DT Jeremiah Ledbetter: 33 (45%)
DT Tyler Lacy: 33 (45%)
DE Arik Armstead: 31 (42%)
DE Myles Cole: 24 (32%)
S Antonio Johnson: 17 (23%)
S Darnell Savage Jr.: 12 (16%)
LB Ventrell Miller: 10 (14%)
CB De’Antre Prince: 6 (8%)
LB Chad Muma: 5 (7%)
S Daniel Thomas: 1 (1%)
Jaguars special teams
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 22: Josh Hines-Allen #41 and Andrew Wingard #42 of the Jacksonville Jaguars leave the field after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders 14-19 at Allegiant Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
Everything Doug Pederson said after Jaguars’ 19-14 loss to Raiders
The Jaguars’ dreadful 2024 season took another turn for the worse in Week 16 when Jacksonville fell to the Las Vegas Raiders — who entered the contest as the worst team in the NFL as reflected in the Week 15 2025 NFL draft order — 19-14.
Find everything Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville’s latest loss below.
On if Pederson is frustrated by the Jaguars’ effort level and mistakes at inopportune times:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, you kind of summed it up. You’re right, it’s not for the lack of effort, physicality, all that. Those guys do play hard. But the mistakes, penalties, things that just held us back all season. I think as coaches, players, it’s the frustrating part. Until we get that corrected, obviously there’s going to be a lot of long days. We’ve got to get it fixed.”
On if there is self-doubt that affects the Jaguars’ ability to win close games:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I’m sure there’s some. I’m sure when a bad play happens or a penalty and it sets you back a little bit, I think maybe there’s a little bit – where we are in our season, I’m sure that creeps in. Guys are human. They’re going to feel that. They’re going to feel that emotion. But it’s mental toughness. It’s the grind. It’s the grit, determination. And the guys show it, and they have shown it, but we just haven’t been able to overcome some of the setbacks.”
On if it’s hard to focus at this time of year:
DOUG PEDERSON: “What do you mean by ‘this time of year’?”
On if it’s hard to focus at this point in a losing season:
DOUG PEDERSON: “I’m sure there’s some of that. I’m sure, again, you’re human and things haven’t gone our way this season. And disappointing as that is, you’re going to feel that emotion. It’s just something that, I think, everybody handles it a little bit differently. But it’s that mental toughness we talk about, having that. And just trying to flush a negative play. Trying your best you can to move on from bad plays, mistakes, whatever it is. Trying to move on to the next play.”
On if Pederson can enjoy rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s successes despite the Jaguars’ record:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, I’m so happy for Brian. We talked last week. He’s such a bright spot offensively and gives a thousand-plus yards and all of that. Just a kid that is so deserving of it, from the way he works to how he plays. And the load that we put on him, for a young player like that, to go out and perform like he does. So happy for him, definitely a bright spot.”
On if Pederson has ever seen an easier touchdown play on Thomas Jr.’s 62-yard receiving touchdown:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Probably busted coverage, looked like. And we needed a play, because I think B.T. [Brian Thomas Jr.] dropped one earlier. And then we come back to him again on the same type of thing and he makes the play. So, it’s the type of kid he is. But it’s never an easy play, but we got help on that one.”
On how difficult managing the pre-snap was:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Those are the inconsistencies. I would say that [Raiders Head Coach] Coach [Antonio] Pierce is probably saying the same thing with his team. But where we are as a football team and the type of year we’ve had, we just can’t make those types of mistakes and expect to win. That probably goes without saying. It’s hard to overcome and try to flush it and move on, I guess.”
On the Jaguars’ lack of takeaways in the last five games:
DOUG PEDERSON: “We had opportunities again today. A couple of balls were tipped and had chances, and that’s part of it too, creating the takeaways. And we had two huge costly turnovers. But again, it’s not for lack of effort and all that. But it’s an area that just we’ve got to keep working, keep working during the week at it. You’ve got to keep making an emphasis in game. You could see our guys punching the football, things of that nature. It’s just not bouncing our way.”
On if Pederson was surprised by P Logan Cooke’s shanked punt:
DOUG PEDERSON: “Yeah, that one surprised me. I know he definitely would want that one back. But obviously, we know Logan [Cooke] is a great punter, just uncharacteristic of him and his ability, but definitely a punt he’d like to have back.”
Find out how the win over the Broncos affected the Chargers’ chances of making the playoffs and their current seeding.
The Chargers beat the Broncos last Sunday. They improved to 9-6, as did their chances of making the playoffs.
According to NFL.com, Los Angeles has a 95% chance of making the playoffs. With the Bolts’ win, they bumped back to the sixth seed, and the Broncos moved down into the seventh seed.
The Chargers can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win over the Patriots next Sunday.
Here’s a look at the division standings after Week 16:
Raiders snap 10-game losing streak by beating Jaguars 19-14
The Raiders (3-12) snapped a 10-game losing streak by beating the Jaguars (3-12) 19-14 on Sunday, sending shockwaves across the projected 2025 NFL draft order to conclude a matchup between teams eliminated from postseason contention weeks ago.
Formerly holding the No. 1 pick through Week 15, Las Vegas fell to No. 6 in the current order by defeating Jacksonville, per Tankathon. The Jaguars inched up one spot, from No. 4 to 3, as a result of the defeat and a loss by the New England Patriots (3-12), who are in the No. 2 slot at press time.
Another pair of Jaguars starters, right tackle Anton Harrison (shoulder) and cornerback Tyson Campbell (shoulder), also suffered injuries but were able to finish the contest.
Jacksonville struggled to get anything going offensively in the first half outside of a first-quarter touchdown drive that began at Las Vegas’ 29-yard line, created by a 26-yard punt return by Jaguars wide receiver Devin Duvernay paired with an unnecessary roughness penalty by the Raiders. Running back Tank Bigsby punched in the score from the one-yard line.
The Jaguars punted four times and saw consecutive drives end in fumbles in the first half, otherwise, with Bigsby losing the ball to end a 10-yard carry and tight end Brenton Strange muffing to conclude a nine-yard catch.
The Raiders could not capitalize on either turnover, however, which limited Las Vegas’ lead to 13-7 at halftime, generated by an Alexander Mattison one-yard rushing touchdown and two Daniel Carlson field goals.
After a nearly 18-minute scoreless stretch of the matchup, in which the teams combined for seven accepted penalties, Jacksonville briefly found life with quarterback Mac Jones finding a wide-open Brian Thomas Jr. for a 62-yard touchdown, the biggest highlight of another franchise record-setting day for the rookie wide receiver.
But the Raiders responded immediately with a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a seven-yard Ameer Abdullah rushing score after quarterback Aidan O’Connell completed four passes in a row for 47 yards in the fourth quarter.
Las Vegas failed a two-point conversion attempt after Abdullah’s touchdown, but Jacksonville could not find another offensive spark to reclaim the lead. The Jaguars went three plays for six yards on their penultimate drive and turned the ball over on downs on their final possession, an eight-play, 39-yard series that ended in their own territory.
Jacksonville will hold its final home game of the 2024 season in Week 17 with the Jaguars set to host the Tennessee Titans (3-12) at EverBank Stadium on Sunday.
Jaguars starters, offensive tackle Walker Little and safety Darnell Savage Jr., exited Jacksonville’s Week 16 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering injuries in the first half.
Little suffered an ankle injury on Jacksonville’s first offensive possession of the game. He entered the contest with a hurt ankle, which he experienced but played through against the New York Jets in Week 15.
Savage was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion during the second quarter.
Jacksonville considered both players questionable to return against Las Vegas at press time.
Little took over as Jacksonville’s starting left tackle in Week 8 and signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the club on Dec. 1. Since his second-round, No. 45 overall selection by the Jaguars in the 2021 NFL draft, Little has made 55 appearances and 25 starts.
Savage, who signed a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March after five seasons with the Green Bay Packers, has logged 42 total tackles including two for loss, one interception and six defended passes in 11 games with the Jaguars.
Las Vegas led Jacksonville 13-7 late in the second quarter at press time.
Brian Thomas Jr. sets another Jaguars rookie record
Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. now holds Jacksonville’s rookie receiving records in each major category.
After setting the franchise rookie records for receiving yards and touchdowns against the New York Jets in Week 15, Thomas’ 16-yard catch against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday moved him into sole possession of Jacksonville’s rookie reception record.
Justin Blackmon set the previous record, 64 receptions, in 2012. Blackmon owned the Jaguars’ former rookie receiving yards record with 865; Allen Hurns set Jacksonville’s prior rookie receiving touchdown record with six in 2014.
At press time, Thomas, Jacksonville’s No. 23 overall selection in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, has 65 receptions for 972 yards and eight touchdowns 15 games into his NFL career.
“I think Brian’s grown a lot,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said about Thomas on Monday. “I can remember back, right after the draft, you get him in here and start working with him and just watching that development, that growth to where he is today as a receiver, and one of the top young receivers in this league. Obviously, a big part of our offense and just a bright spot.
“It’s been encouraging to see his growth and what he’s capable of doing. Going back and watching him on film coming out of LSU to today, some of the same things, some of the explosiveness. We continue each week to load his plate up and give him more opportunities and really expand his route tree just a little bit more. Has been good, and he embraces it well.”
Jacksonville and Las Vegas were tied 7-7 in the second quarter at press time.
Find the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders’ inactive lists for their Week 16 matchup below.
Jaguars inactives
OT Javon Foster
DT Esezi Otomewo
DT Jordan Jefferson
CB Ronald Darby
Analysis: Jacksonville made only four inactive players as it entered Week 16 with 52 players on its roster.
The Jaguars’ most notable inactive player is former starting cornerback Ronald Darby, now a healthy scratch after being benched in favor of third-year Jacksonville cornerback Montaric Brown.
Raiders inactives
QB Carter Bradley (emergency third quarterback)
OG Jordan Meredith
DT Matthew Butler
LB Kana’i Mauga
CB Nate Hobbs
CB Sam Webb
Analysis: The Raiders made linebacker Kana’i Mauga and cornerbacks, Nate Hobbs and Sam Webb, inactive after they came down with illnesses on Friday. Webb was previously listed on Las Vegas’ injury report due to a back injury.
Jacksonville vs. Las Vegas is scheduled to kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
