Skip to main content

Chiefs’ Charles questionable to play vs Dolphins

By WTOP Staff

HERBIE TEOPE
Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jamaal Charles practiced in a limited capacity Friday for the second straight day, raising hopes that the Chiefs’ Pro Bowl running back will be available for Sunday’s game in Miami.

Charles sustained a high ankle sprain in last week’s loss to Denver.

“He looked a little sore,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “but he did OK. He worked yesterday (Thursday). He loosened up, kind of went as it went. We’ll just see how he does.”

Charles did not practice Wednesday, and it was feared that the injury could keep him out of the lineup for several weeks.

But he told Reid that he wanted to try practicing on Thursday, and he wound up splitting time with the first-team offense and the scout team.

He remains listed as questionable. If Charles is limited or unable to play, the bulk of the carries would go to second-year pro Knile Davis, who played well last week.

The 5-foot-10, 227-pound Davis ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns against Denver.

“He’s a guy as we saw last week in the football game when two-five went down,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said, “came in and had an outstanding game. He’s understanding his role and that’s a big part of what he does.”

Davis offered a glimpse of his value in the final week last season, when the Chiefs rested Charles and most of their starters in a meaningless game for them. He ended up carrying 27 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns in a close loss in San Diego.

Davis reinforced his importance as Charles’ primary backup in the playoffs, when he ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns after Charles sustained a concussion.

“One year makes a huge difference,” said Davis, the Chiefs’ third-round pick a year ago. “I’ve learned the game, I’m comfortable now. I’m just ready to go.”

Even though he’s a big, physical running back, and Charles is quick and elusive, Reid said he doesn’t anticipate having to make any major adjustments to the game plan.

That’s helpful considering it appears Charles will be a game-time decision.

“I don’t think it would change much from what you saw (Sunday),” Reid said. “He was involved in a lot of different areas. I’m not saying in number of carries. You saw him go and play a few different roles.”

The uncertainty surrounding Charles this week afforded Davis a chance to work with the first team, getting acclimated to the game plan in a way that rarely happens as a backup.

“It is a benefit to Knile because he is getting all of the reps,” Pederson said. “Offensively, you would love to have everybody and you’d love to have two-five and all that getting him the reps as well. But yeah, it is a benefit to Knile.”

While having Charles available is ideal, the Chiefs are prepared to go forward without him.

“I’m confident with the game plan we put in this week and we’re ready to roll,” Davis said. “Whole team is ready to roll, ready to go out there and execute.”

NOTES: S Eric Berry (ankle) and WR/RB De’Anthony Thomas (hamstring) have been ruled out for Miami. Reid doesn’t believe Berry’s injury is related to the right heel tendinitis that caused him to miss preseason games. “I think they’re separate deals,” Reid said. Thomas had been dealing with a hamstring injury since Sept. 3, but Reid said he did not aggravate it. “It’s fatigued and so we just backed off and said we’ll go from there,” he explained. “He didn’t reinjure, it’s just more precautionary.”

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote