NFL Notes: Chargers, Giants, Jets, Lions, & Ravens

Chargers

• Michael Gelkin of the Union-Tribune reports that TE Antonio Gates could miss multiple weeks with his MCL injury.
• Gelkins points out Gates was not close to being active for Sunday’s game against the Raiders.

Giants

• Giants WR Victor Cruz told Tom Rock of Newsday his next scan on his calf is next Thursday.
• Cruz has not played this season because of his calf injury and suffered a setback when he returned to practice before Week 4.

Jets

• Rich Cimini reports that while Jets C Nick Mangold is a question mark for next week’s game against Raiders, “the team is encouraged because it’s not as bad as initially feared.“
• Jets HC Todd Bowles says S Calvin Pryor and P Ryan Quigley‘s are in doubt for their next game, but RB Chris Ivory and DB Buster Skrine should be available.

Lions

Lions QB Matthew Stafford told reporters his play is partly to blame for the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.

“Joe was receptive to the things I had to say,” Stafford said, via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. “If anything, it was probably I got to do a better job of communicating, too. It’s on everybody when bad stuff happens, and I can always be better too.

“Joe’s a stand-up guy and I really enjoyed working with him. It’s not one person. When it gets to this point, it’s a lot of people involved.”

Stafford has 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season, and had just six touchdowns and eight interceptions in the team’s first five games, all losses.

Ravens

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley thinks the Ravens may not want to trade WR Steve Smith because they are hoping he returns to the team next season instead of retiring.

Smith told reporters last week he remained “on schedule” for what he said his plan was at the start of the year. However, Hensley writes Smith’s decision to not use the word “retirement” made it sound as though he wasn’t as sure of the decision.

Smith is also outplaying his current contract, which would see him make $3 million next season, so the Ravens could try to give Smith a raise in hopes of bringing him back for another year with the team.