San Diego Chargers wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones suffered a sprained ankle against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, and it is unknown if he will be able to play this weekend, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.
The Chargers beat the Lions in a shootout this weekend 33-28, and Jones handled the kick return duties. Jones is in his ninth season in the league and is an important piece for the Chargers. While Jones may not be the top receiving threat for the Chargers, he is their leading return man. Without Jones, the Chargers are likely to go with Branden Oliver or Keenan Allen on kickoff and punt returns.
The Chargers have depth at receiver with players like Keenan Allen, Stevie Johnson and Malcom Floyd, but without Jones, Dontrelle Inman will likely see some playing time. The Chargers play the Bengals this Sunday, and Cincinnati is just coming off a dominant performance against the Oakland Raiders.
The Bengals defense is likely much tougher than Detroit's, and field position could have a huge impact on this game. Jones has nine touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns in his career, and any time he touches the ball there can be a spark of excitement. Jones' injury shouldn't impact fantasy leagues, but it could impact the Chargers against the Bengals.
Keenan Allen and Steve Johnson both had big games this past weekend with 248 receiving yards combined and a touchdown. Look for Allen to try and duplicate his performance on Sunday, but it will likely be difficult as the Bengals defense looks solid. It is unclear if Jones will play this weekend, but it could have an impact if he can't go.
