NFL Gamecock Roundup: Cann set to shine on the line
/See below for today's schedule of former Gamecocks playing in the NFL.
-AJ Cann looks primed to make his first start of the season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. With right guard Brandon Linder injured last week, Cann has been getting the first-team reps in practice. Previously, his only appearances this season have been on special teams, so this start will mark the first regular season snaps Cann will get to play on the offensive line. After mostly lining up at left guard during the preseason, Cann has been switching between the left and right sides, in exact preparation for an event like this. “My preparation has gone well and I’m excited to see what I can do,” Cann said. “I feel like I can do a decent job on both sides. Playing right these last couple weeks, I have felt more comfortable.”
-After seeming all set to go earlier in the week, Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is now being held out of Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders due to his lingering hamstring injury. Multiple sources were optimistic about the wide receiver's chances to play today, even going so far to say that he was healthy. But Jeffery's practices remained limited, and for the third week in a row, the Bears will be out with their top target on offense. It doesn't help matters that Jeffery has been rumored to be on the trade block as the Bears continue their fire sale, but one would have to presume that if Jeffery was 100 percent, the Bears wouldn't continue to be blatant about tanking games, and would certainly start him.
-Chris Culliver may also be out for Sunday, after not practicing for the second day in a row. Culliver left practice early on Wednesday with a sore knee, but head coach Jay Gruden still seemed optimistic that Culliver would be able to play. “He’s got soreness down there,” Gruden said. “Whether it’s wear and tear, I don’t know what it is. We’ll take it easy on him and try to get [him] ready for Sunday. I feel optimistic, but you never know. It’s up to him and how he feels.” The Redskins will already be without top wide receiver DeSean Jackson; to be without their top cornerback on the opposite side of the ball may be just as detrimental.
NFL Schedule for Week 4
Sunday, Oct. 4
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (London), 1 p.m., CBS
- Antonio Allen, S, Jets (injured, inactive)
Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m., CBS
- Johnathan Joseph, DB, Texans (injured, questionable)
- Patrick DiMarco, FB, Falcons
- Jadeveon Clowney, DE/LB, Texans
New York Giants at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m., FOX
- Jasper Brinkley, LB, Giants
- Stephon Gilmore, DB, Bills
Oakland Raiders at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., CBS
- Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears (injured, inactive)
Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m., CBS
- T.J. Johnson, OL, Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., CBS
- A.J. Cann, OL, Jaguars
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., FOX
- D.J. Swearinger, S, Buccaneers
- Damiere Byrd, WR, Panthers (practice squad)
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m., FOX
- Chris Culliver, DB, Redskins (injured, questionable)
Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers, 4:05 p.m., CBS
- Connor Shaw, QB, Browns (injured, inactive)
- Melvin Ingram, LB/DE, Chargers
St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m., FOX
- Jared Cook, TE, Rams
- Justice Cunningham, TE/FB, Rams (practice squad)
Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., FOX
- Captain Munnerlyn, DB, Vikings
- Darian Stewart, S, Broncos
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m., FOX
- Bruce Ellington, WR/KR, 49ers
- Mike Davis, RB, 49ers
-Busta Anderson, TE, 49ers (injured, inactive)
- Dylan Thompson, QB, 49ers (practice squad)
Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints, 8:30 p.m., NBC
Monday, Oct. 5
Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
- Corey Robinson, OL, Lions (injured, doubtful)
- Devin Taylor, DE, Lions
- Click here to see additional NFL Gamecock Updates
* = Practice Squad
+ = Injured
