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KANSAS CITY, Mo. Cheap Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . - Jamaal Charles sprained his ankle against Denver. He had it twisted at a gruesome angle against Arizona. His knee has repeatedly swollen up after games. He took such a blow Sunday against Oakland that he was administered a concussion test on the sideline.Heck, the star running even hurt himself tripping over a curb while moving out of the dorms when the Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up training camp so many months ago.In other words, Knile Davis picked a nice time to show up over the weekend.The backup running back had largely disappeared since early in the season, when he had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games with Charles nursing his ankle. But he was crucial in a 31-13 win over the Raiders, running for a touchdown while Charles was going through the concussion protocol and then catching a 70-yard touchdown pass to help put the game away.Im happy for Knile. Every week he comes to practice and doesnt say a word, Charles said after the game. He comes to the game, and sometimes he doesnt get any reps and Ill be like, Man, let him loose. But he comes in when Im down and makes plays for me.Charles acknowledged that injuries have been killing me this year, a big reason why hes only carried 184 times for 950 yards. That puts him on pace for his worst season since his rookie year, not counting the 2011 season that he mostly missed recovering from a torn ACL.Still, it will be hard to keep him out considering what is at stake. By knocking off Oakland, the Chiefs (8-6) maintained control of their own destiny heading to Pittsburgh this weekend. They finish up with San Diego on Dec. 28. Both of those teams are also in the playoff hunt.Every game is playoff-mode, Charles said. Every game, youve got to come with it.Charles seemed to know what was at stake when he lowered his head near the goal line in the third quarter Sunday, with the outcome still hanging in the balance. He took a shot from two Oakland defenders and appeared to be unsteady as he got to his feet. He was subbed out and Davis went in, and Reid told his top playmaker that he needed to go through the concussion testing.The blow was reminiscent of a shot delivered by former teammate Brandon Flowers during a game against the Chargers. Charles later admitted on a radio show to seeing stars but avoided going through the concussion protocol because he didnt want to exit the game.Really, he was complaining of his knee and his ankle, not his head. But he did take a big hit there, so we kind of went in that direction, Reid said. He set me straight when I came over there and he wasnt able to score that touchdown and Knile did. He wanted the ball. He wanted back in.Charles eventually did return, but only briefly. The Chiefs put up three touchdowns in 4 minutes, 44 seconds, including the long TD catch by Davis. That allowed Charles to spend the rest of the game on the sideline, resting his knee and bothersome ankle.I feel good, he said. I just think I need to get off of it and ice it and heal it and get it back right because it is still tender.Even if Charles is limited against the Steelers, Davis proved Sunday he can help shoulder the load. The bruising running back easily scored on his touchdown run, and then showed off world-class speed when he took a short throw from Alex Smith and ran untouched for his other score.Like Jamaal said, every game from here forward is a playoff game. Were taking that mindset into every game, Davis said. For me, its just a dream to be in the NFL. To make the big plays and help this team win is just huge all around.NOTES: DE Allen Bailey and CB Phillip Gaines are continuing to deal with concussions, Reid said Monday. LB Josh Mauga is dealing with an oblique strain that he sustained Sunday. Cheap Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys . But even after pouring in a game-high 33 points in a convincing win over the Orlando Magic, Lowry was managing expectations ahead of Thursdays announcement of the reserves for next months game. cheap jerseys . When a few shots broke through that defensive front, Jonathan Quick was there. The Kings won the Stanley Cup two years ago with that basic formula, and they can see it clicking again as they close in on another playoff run.SEATTLE - Mike Trout failed to make much of an impression when he was first promoted to the Los Angeles Angels in July. Now its hard not to notice him. Trout, considered by many scouts to be the best prospect in baseball, homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 13-6 rout of the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. The Angels are still 3 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West as the Rangers also won. The youngest player in the majors at 20 years, 23 days, Trout started the onslaught in the second with a solo shot into the left-field bullpen on a 3-2 pitch from Anthony Vasquez (1-1). Vasquez, making his second big-league start, walked the first two batters in the fourth before Trout added a three-run blast into the left-field seats for a 4-0 lead. "I dont have that anxiousness to hit the ball," Trout said. "The first time I got up here I wanted to hit it hard every time to impress everyone. Now Im just trying to be myself and not trying to do too much." He made his big-league debut July 8 but in 14 games he hit just .163 with one home run and 6 RBI. He was sent back to Double-A Arkansas July 29 before being recalled Aug. 19. Since his recall, hes gone 9 for 21 with four home runs. He has three home runs in the past two games and now five in his 65-at-bat career. "Since the first (callup) its like two different things," he said. "The first couple weeks I was jittery. Now I actually feel calm in the box, looking for my pitch." Manager Mike Scioscia said that Trout, the teams first-round draft choice in 2009, is just continuing where he left off in the minors where he hit .333 with 10 extra-base hits in 16 games. "He wasnt overmatched his first go-around. Maybe didnt get as many hits to fall in but he wasnt overmatched," Scioscia said. "No doubt when you come up here, no matter how talented you are, when you start to have success and start to achieve, thats the litmus test, thats the proving ground and you carry that momentum forward. And it becomes confidence. "Hes doing some things that should give any player confidence." He is the youngest Angels player to hit two home runs in a game. Mariners manager Eric Wedge that Trout "is a very talented young man and has some strength in that swing." The Angels have hit at least one homer in 20 of the past 21 games. They also have 75 road home runs compared to 48 at home. Seattle scored two in the fourrth to cut the lead in half but it blew up for Vasquez and the Mariners in the Angels eight-run fifth inning. wholesale jerseys. . The first eight hitters all scored. It was the Angels biggest inning this season and the most runs in an inning since scoring nine on Aug. 16, 2009 in the 13th at Baltimore. Vasquez, the son of an Angels area scout, gave up the first two runs — he was charged with eight overall — and left with runners on first and third and one out. Jeff Gray entered and walked three straight batters, forcing in two runs. Erick Aybar had the innings biggest hit, a two-run double. This was the sixth time this season the Angels have scored 10 or more runs. It was their second-highest scoring game, two short of a season-high 15 on April 19 at Texas. All those runs gave comfort to Jerome Williams (2-0), who, like Vasquez, was making his second career start. He disposed of nine straight Mariners on just 23 pitches over his first three innings. "I dont believe hes 20," Williams said of Trout. "He got me two tonight. He helped me a lot." The Mariners reached Williams in the fourth. Mike Carp hit a RBI double into the left-field corner and Miguel Olivo beat out a RBI infield single to deep short. The Mariners added another pair in the seventh on a two-out, bases-loaded single by Ichiro Suzuki. That extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Williams went seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out six. Olivo, who had three hits, picked up his second infield-hit RBI in the Mariners two-run eighth off Bobby Cassevah. Notes: Angels manager Mike Scioscia said when rosters expand Thursday "well definitely add a pitcher and a couple position players." Eventually, the club plans to add eight or nine players besides four or five callups. ... The Mariners also should have three veterans back from the DL early next month: 1B Justin Smoak (broken nose), 3B Chone Figgins (right hip flexor) and SS/2B Jack Wilson (heel). "Im anxious to see (Smoak) play," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "He needs to play up here." ... The Mariners will send Felix Hernandez (12-11, 3.37 ERA) to the mound Wednesday. He was be opposed by Dan Haren (13-7, 3.19). Hernandez went 13-12 last season when he won the AL Cy Young Award. He is 4-9 in 23 career starts against the Angels. Haren is 9-4 in 17 career starts against Seattle. wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' ' |
