JANUARY 13: Despite Staley’s expectation Williams would return against the Jaguars, the injury he sustained in Week 18’s meaningless (for seeding purposes) game will cost the Chargers. Staley said Williams could play without practicing this week, but the Bolts HC ruled out the big-play wideout for Saturday night’s game. Williams will remain in Los Angeles to undergo treatment, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Staley drew steady criticism for leaving his starters in the regular-season finale well into the fourth quarter. That decision leading to the team losing Williams for the playoff opener will increase the scrutiny on the second-year HC.
JANUARY 9: The Chargers got a scare on Sunday when leading wide receiver Mike Williams needed to be carted to the locker room in a Week 18 loss to the Broncos that held no playoff implications.
Despite the serious look of the back injury that ailed him, Williams is expected to play this Saturday night in Jacksonville, according to ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry.
Williams, who leads all Chargers receivers with 895 receiving yards, suffered a back injury Sunday that required him to be assisted off the field by trainers and, eventually, to be carted off to the locker room. The injury appeared to affect Williams so much that he required help to get back to the team bus from the locker room. Daniel Popper of The Athletic reported that Williams “could not walk on his own.”
Los Angeles head coach Brandon Staley told reporters that Williams underwent an MRI exam that revealed no fracture or muscle injury. Williams only suffered a contusion, albeit, it appears, a painful one. Regardless, Staley expects that Williams will return to practice this week and should be available against the Jaguars this weekend.
Well, I am happy he will be back
What I am not happy about is the Jags playing the Chargers, I am rooting for both teams
How can this be? Well, I am wondering that myself
Looks like the Boltz dodged a bullet. Finally some good luck.
That bullet just made a quick u-turn.
For a guy whose calling card is supposed to be how smart he is, Staley sure makes some obvious unforced errors. Playing banged up starters in a meaningless game was needless and foolish.
This was a horrible lapse in judgement by Staley. The kind that gets u fired if u lose a close playoff game..
Those drumbeats you heard suggesting Sean Payton might end up in LA just got a lot louder.
Staley should be fired for this. The guy is so important to their offense and has struggled to stay healthy all year. Even if you feel a need to play the starters for some stupid reason, he’s the ONE guy you don’t play!