According to a weekend report from the San Diego Union-Tribune, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates(notes) “has been running and now looks a little more likely to play Monday night.”
Gates hasn’t actually practiced yet, but running is clearly a positive development. He’s listed as questionable for the Denver game due to a medley of injuries to his feet. (The big concern: a torn plantar fascia).
We’ve obviously been through the Gates drill before. If Antonio is your starting tight end, you’ll want to have the 13 percent-owned Randy McMichael(notes) available as Plan B. There’s at least some reason to hope that Gates will attempt to go in a game that figures to be a shootout. Feel free to join the MNF liveblog over at Shutdown Corner, if you don’t mind the invasive screening procedures.
• Detroit rookie Jahvid Best(notes) carried just three times for two yards at Dallas on Sunday, and he acknowledged after the game that he’s still severely limited and turf-toed:
“It was definitely bothering me a little bit more this week. My role was definitely reduced,” Best said of his turf toe injuries. “The left one and the right one, they take turns. Some days, I feel good. And some days, I just have a bad day.”
Maurice Morris(notes) rushed for 31 yards on 10 carries in relief of Best, and added four receptions for 40 yards. This is clearly a situation to avoid, if possible. The Lions offense currently ranks 31st in rushing (80.5 YPG, 3.5 YPC).
• The Colts chose their words carefully when discussing why Austin Collie(notes) was lifted from Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. They didn’t actually state that he was concussed again, instead saying only that he was pulled for “precautionary reasons.” And then they hid his helmet. “He got hit pretty good a couple times,” said coach Jim Caldwell. The lightly owned Blair White(notes) was terrific in Collie’s absence, catching five passes for 42 yards and two scores.
• After aggravating his groin injury in Week 11, Clinton Portis(notes) is reportedly unlikely to play in the Minnesota game. He could of course be sidelined for multiple weeks, depending on the nature of the re-tweaking. Keiland Williams(notes) finished with 95 total yards on 29 touches in the OT win over Tennessee, and he could be looking at another substantial workload in Week 12.
• Seattle’s Mike Williams suffered a foot sprain in the second half of the loss to the Saints, so his status for the upcoming home match-up with Kansas City isn’t yet known. The match-up is certainly friendly — the Chiefs have the NFL’s 25th ranked pass defense (244.3 YPG) — and the Seahawks are generally competent at home (the Giants game notwithstanding).
• Cleveland rookie QB Colt McCoy(notes) battled through a left ankle injury on Sunday, eventually leaving the stadium in a walking boot. The early speculation is that he may have a high ankle sprain. McCoy was impressive once again, passing for 241 yards and one score. His game-ending interception certainly could have been hauled in by the intended receiver, Benjamin Watson(notes) — the pass appeared to hit the TE in the chest. (Watson would have likely been tackled short of the goal line, but still).
• We conclude Monday’s 7-on-7 with the usual dismount: The Rams Report Card, following a tough loss. That seems like another rough grade for Steven Jackson — it’s not like he was calling the plays. If Jackson had been, he probably would have finished with more than 11 carries. He averaged 4.9 yards a pop, so he was clearly effective.
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