Player Notes

NFL Team Report - Carolina PanthersNewton out, Heinicke in as Panthers QB Cam Newton's ailing shoulder has become a distraction for the Carolina Panthers and detriment at times to the offense as a whole. Newton was finally willing to divulge some of the challenges he has been playing with, something he revealed more openly after the 12-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints.With just two games remaining ...

NFL Team Report - Los Angeles ChargersPLAYER NOTES --RB Melvin Gordon (knee) practiced and all signs are he will start on Saturday. --WR Keenan Allen (hip) was limited after not practicing the day before. --RB Austin Ekeler (neck) didn't practice Wednesday. --TE Sean Culkin (back) didn't practice Wednesday. --RB Melvin Gordon (knee) was a full participant Wednesday. --DT Brandon Mebane ...

NFL Team Report - Los Angeles Chargers--The Chargers had an NFL-high seven players land on the AFC Pro Bowl team. Those being honored were quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Melvin Gordon, wide receiver Keenan Allen, center Mike Pouncey, rookie safety Derwin James, outside linebacker Melvin Ingram and safety Adrian Phillips. "That's special," James said, "to know you're among the best in the league." ...

NFL Team Report - Los Angeles ChargersRB Gordon expected back against Ravens The Los Angeles Chargers continue to put up impressive numbers and they'll look to stay on their roll when meeting the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. Los Angeles (11-3) will be aiming for its sixth win on the heels of having an NFL-high seven of its players selected to the AFC's Pro Bowl team. It seems everything ...

NFL Team Report - Pittsburgh SteelersPLAYER NOTES --RB James Conner, who has missed the past two games with an ankle injury, did not practice Wednesday and it does not appear he will be able to play against the Saints. --S Terrell Edmunds is in the concussion protocol. He was limited in practice Wednesday. --DE Cameron Heyward hyper-extended his knee against the Patriots, but he went through ...

NFL Team Report - Pittsburgh Steelers--The Steelers did something new against the Patriots that they hadn't done much of all season. They featured five receivers. It was something first-year offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner came up with last week after Eli Rogers came off the physically unable to perform list. Against the Patriots, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed passes to eight different ...

NFL Team Report - Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers fight for playoff lives in final two games The Pittsburgh Steelers rediscovered their running game in an upset victory against one of the AFC favorites to reach the Super Bowl. Now they'll try to beat the best team in the NFC on the road. The Steelers (8-5-1) rushed for 158 yards in their 17-10 victory over the Patriots, which kept them a half-game ...

NFL Team Report - Kansas City ChiefsPLAYER NOTES --RT Mitchell Schwartz injured his left knee during last Thursday's loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. He did not exit the game, however, continuing his streak of never missing an offensive snap in his career. He did not practice on Wednesday and his status for Sunday's trip to Seattle remains up in the air. --WR Tyreek Hill was a full participant ...

NFL Team Report - Kansas City Chiefs--Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes hopes he's too busy preparing for the Super Bowl to attend the 2019 Pro Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 27, but that doesn't take away any of the excitement of winning the starting quarterback role for the AFC team this season. "It is truly a special thing," Mahomes said. "I remember growing up as a little kid watching the skills challenges ...

NFL Team Report - Kansas City ChiefsSuperstitions fuel DE Jones success Chris Jones readily admits to letting superstition dictate many of his daily decisions. He wears the same clothes and the same cleats, eats dinner at the same restaurant. He even sticks with the same stinky gloves to avoid the perils of ending the hottest streak of his career. "I got my first sack in these new gloves I got," ...