-
Lindsey ThiryESPN
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Receiver Keenan Allen left the Los Angeles Chargers‘ 24-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday with a hamstring injury, leaving his status unclear for a division matchup in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs on “Thursday Night Football.”
Allen said after the game that he was feeling “not bad” and that he could “possibly” play against the Chiefs. When reminded that the game was to be played on a short week with only three days to prepare, Allen said, “small possibly.”
There is a chance that cornerback J.C. Jackson, who was inactive Sunday, could return in time to face quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, according to coach Brandon Staley.
Jackson, who underwent ankle surgery last month and was given a two-to-four-week timeline to return, worked out during pregame warm-ups.
“He looks good, we’re excited,” Staley said. “He’s still day-to-day, but we’re excited. Trending positive.”
Staley continued, “Could he have played today? Maybe. A couple guys came to me pregame and said he looks good.”
Allen sustained the injury in the first half, saying that when he planted into the ground on a route that he felt a little pull and his hamstring tightened.
He did not return to the game and finished with four catches for 66 yards, including a 42-yard reception that helped set up a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Chargers a 10-3 lead.
Following Allen’s injury, the Chargers inserted receiver DeAndre Carter, whom they signed to a one-year, $1.14 million deal in free agency.
Carter finished with three catches for 64 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown reception that put the Bolts up 17-3 going into halftime.
“That’s what you like to see,” said Allen, the Chargers’ receptions leader since 2017. “The offense didn’t stall at all.”
In the absence of Jackson, the NFL’s interceptions leader (25) since 2018 whom the Bolts signed to a five-year, $82.5 million deal, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. became mostly responsible for covering star Raiders receiver Davante Adams.
Adams finished with 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Samuel had four tackles, two pass deflections and intercepted a deep pass near the goal line that was intended for Adams.
Source: www.espn.com