The high-flying offense of the Denver Broncos won't have its second-leading receiver this week.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that wide receiver Wes Welker won't play in Thursday night's game against the San Diego Chargers because of the concussion he sustained in a Week 14 win over the Tennessee Titans, per a source informed of the pass-catcher's health.
Welker was officially ruled out later in the day.
Welker has suffered two concussions in four games, so his absence against the Chargers comes as little surprise. With a short week to prepare for San Diego, look for the Broncos to lean on wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker with a generous helping of dual tight end sets featuring Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme.
We don't expect the Broncos to skip a beat, especially against one of the leakiest pass defenses west of our nation's capital.
Here's the rest of Wednesday's injury news:
- Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins will start Sunday in place of Robert Griffin III, who will be inactive for Washington's meeting with the Atlanta Falcons. "Coach decided to shut me down for the rest of the season," Griffin told reporters Wednesday, before Mike Shanahan explained his unorthodox decision in one of this season's more unforgettable pressers.
- Packers tight end Andrew Quarless told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that quarterback Aaron Rodgerstook first-team reps with the offense Wednesday. That must have come after the media was ushered away, because multiple reports had Green Bay's star passer engaged solely in individual drills. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that Rodgers is unlikely to be medically cleared before Sunday's game against the Cowboys, per a source informed of the player's health. That source also told Rapoport that the Packers don't expect Rodgers to play in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys. We'll know more Thursday.
- Also for Green Bay, running back Eddie Lacymissed the session after playing through a nagging ankle injury in Green Bay's win over the Atlanta Falcons, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. Lacy's no sure bet for Sunday's meeting with the Cowboys.
- Minnesota Vikings running backs Adrian Peterson (foot) and Toby Gerhart (hamstring) didn't participate, but coach Leslie Frazier told reporters that he hopes to "have them practice on Friday." If neither can make it back in time for Sunday's meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles, Chip Kelly's defense will face little-used runner Matt Asiata. In other news, Matt Cassel will start at quarterback for the Vikings on Sunday.
- Reggie Bush missed Week 14 with an aggravated calf muscle and didn't practice Wednesday. The Lions running back said he expects to play in the team's Week 15 tilt against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, the Detroit Free Press reported.
- Bears linebacker Lance Briggs told the Chicago Sun-Times that he hasn't been cleared to play after doctors evaluated his fractured left shoulder Tuesday. Briggs hasn't suited up since Week 7 and we don't expect him to be on the field in Cleveland to face the Browns on Sunday.
- Speaking of the Browns, the team sent Willis McGahee home Wednesday after the running back suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots, per the Akron Beacon Journal. Left guard John Greco also missed practice with a sprained knee, but quarterback Brandon Weeden (concussion) returned to action.
- After tweaking his hamstring last Thursday night against the Houston Texans, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew didn't practice but told reporters, per The Florida Times-Union, that his goal is to be ready for Jacksonville's meeting with the Buffalo Bills this weekend.
- Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden sat out practice with an ankle injury, meaning more work for Marcel Reece, who looked fantastic against the New York Jets in Week 14.
- Unless those Raiders surge over the next three weeks, Around The League scribe Chris Wesseling won't be eating his softball pants. He is, however, doubtful for Sunday's newsroom shift with what his agent described as a "late-season malaise."
The latest "Around The League Podcast" recapped all the Week 14 games.
