The Oakland Raiders are anxiously awaiting the return of RB Justin Fargas, who missed two games with a groin injury, in Week Six, and not just because of his tough, decisive running style. Fargas is the team’s best pass-blocking back, and rookie RB Darren McFadden has really struggled with that task.
Sources in Denver say RB Michael Pittman could get a few extra carries here and there, but they don’t expect his role to change much, although he’s looked like the team’s best back at times in the early going. He’s not bothered by anything he’s asked to do, whether it’s as a runner, blocker or receiver, and he’s been very valuable in that jack-of-all-trades role.
We hear that the elbow injury to Chiefs OLT Branden Albert could be serious enough to sideline him for a number of weeks. That would leave second-year man Herb Taylor to fill in at left tackle, a move that the team expects would hinder its running game more than its passing attack.
If the Chargers seem a bit worn down by the end of October, it won’t be a coincidence. The team will make two trips to the East Coast (Miami and Buffalo) and a trek to London (to play the Saints) all during this month. We hear that, in a 24-day span, the team will log 15,769 travel miles. Luckily for them, they get a bye week to rest up following their England trip.
