So frustrated was rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen to be sitting out at the beginning of the 2013 season that the San Diego Chargers’ leading receiver said he was a snap away from leaving the NFL for a career in the music industry.
Allen, a third-round pick from California, was recovering from a season-ending knee injury and was playing behind Eddie Royal, Danario Alexander and Malcom Floyd.
But as injuries added up and Allen regained strength and confidence, he climbed the depth chart to become an indispensable part of the San Diego offense.
He leads San Diego with 967 receiving yards and ranks third with 66 receptions.
“After I didn’t play after that first game, I was about another snap away of not playing from quitting,” Allen told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “(I wasn’t) living up to my expectations of starting. I’ve never been a role player-type guy. Not easy at all. … I’ve never had to do it before. I never had to adjust.”
Allen, a five-star recruit who initially signed at Alabama as a safety before transferring to Cal to play with his brother, said his mother was able to convince him that returning to school to pursue a career in the music industry wasn’t in his best interest.
Kitna giving paycheck to school
Jon Kitna will donate his game check from Sunday night’s NFC East showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles to the high school where he serves as a math teacher and football coach.
The Cowboys signed the 41-year-old Kitna out of retirement on Wednesday to serve as a backup in case starter Tony Romo is unable to play because of a back injury and reserve Kyle Orton steps into a primary role.
Kitna’s paycheck will be approximately $53,000 for a week of work, which comes during a winter break from classes at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash. Kitna spoke Thursday with Cowboys play-by-play announcer Brad Sham about the gift to the school.
Kitna spent 14 years in the NFL as a quarterback. He started for the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions along the way. During his final three seasons, he served as a backup to Romo.
The Cowboys still are not sure whether Romo will play and Kitna will be needed on Sunday evening against the Eagles in a game that will determine the NFC East champion. Romo is still dealing with pain from a back injury and did not practice on Thursday while receiving treatment.
“Continuing to go through the process with Tony,” Garrett told reporters. “Just see how he feels every day waking up and evaluate him and treat him and see how he responds to it as much as anything else.”
Manuel’s status undetermined
The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback situation remains up in the air heading into the final regular-season game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
The Bills had planned on rookie EJ Manuel, who missed last week’s victory over the Miami Dolphins with a sprained knee, being ready to start at New England. That might not be the case now after Manuel was a limited participant during Thursday’s practice while working with the first-team offense.
“Both quarterbacks participated in practice,” Bills coach Doug Marrone said of Manuel and backup Thad Lewis, the starter against the Dolphins. “Both quarterbacks participated in team drills. EJ looked improved today and we’re still in the process of making a decision on how we’re going to move forward.”
The Bills were unable to test Manuel’s knee outside becausf snowy conditions in the Buffalo area forced them to practice indoors.
“I was still a little backed up as far as getting EJ out there and working on that type of field where the conditions are a little more slippery, along with some other guys that have some nicks and bumps,” Marrone said, according to the team’s website. “If the weather report for Saturday was going to be snow, then that would’ve trumped that thinking and we would’ve gone outside.”
Manuel has missed five starts this season because of injuries.
“I just want to see the confidence to be able to do the things that we’re asking him to do to win the game,” Marrone said regarding the possibility of Manuel starting Sunday. “That’s where the responsibility gets a little tough where you have to make tough decisions. The responsibility to the player who wants to play and go in there and the responsibility to the team of saying, ‘Is he ready?’”
Lions place Dickerson on IR
Detroit Lions tight end Dorin Dickerson was placed on injured reserve with concussion-like symptoms.
Dickerson admitted earlier in the week that he hid a concussion from team physicians.
“Got a little concussion. Should have reported it,” Dickerson said after telling reporters he did not remember speaking with the media following a Week 16 loss to the Giants.
“I thought I could get away with it,” he said.
To take Dickerson’s spot on the 53-man roster, the Lions signed tight end Matt Veldman.