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Colts' Branden Oliver: Returns from hamstring injury
Oliver (hamstring) had 10 carries for 33 yards, including a two-yard touchdown, in Thursday's preseason win over the Bengals.
Oliver is facing an uphill battle to make the Colts' 53-man roster with Marlon Mack, Christine Michael, Robert Turbin, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins all likely ahead of him. However, with Turbin suspended for the first four games and Mack sidelined with a hamstring injury, he could win a final bench spot.
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Colts' Branden Oliver: Not expected to play Saturday
Oliver (hamstring) is not expected to play in Saturday's game against the 49ers.
Oliver is facing an uphill battle to make the Colts' 53-man roster with Marlon Mack, Christine Michael, Robert Turbin, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins all fighting him for snaps. As is the case, Oliver is not helping his cause by sitting on the sideline. He will need to get healthy before preseason ends to improve his chances of making Indianapolis' final squad.
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Colts' Branden Oliver: Sitting for Monday's game
Oliver (hamstring) was ruled out for Monday's preseason contest against Baltimore.
Oliver sat out practice earlier this week as he nursed the hamstring injury, and it's apparently severe enough for him miss Monday's game. The 27-year-old is facing long odds to crack the 53-man roster, which becomes increasingly difficult the longer he's sidelined.
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Colts' Branden Oliver: Nursing hamstring injury
Oliver (hamstring) didn't practice Tuesday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.
After spending four seasons with the Chargers, Oliver was brought aboard to fight for a depth role with the Colts. He's a long shot to make the roster, as he's seen his yards per carry slip each year, finishing with 2.4 YPC in 2017.
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Colts' Branden Oliver: Signs with Colts
Oliver signed with the Colts on Sunday.
Oliver has spent his entire career up to this point with the Chargers, taking 226 carries for 773 yards and three touchdowns in 30 games, with 55 catches for 409 yards and another score. The 27-year-old faces an uphill battle to make the Indianapolis roster, as Marlon Mack and Robert Turbin both showed value last year, and the team dedicated two picks in this year's draft to acquire running backs Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins.
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Branden Oliver: Could be in play for Bills
Oliver may set up a workout with the Bills, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.
Currently an unrestricted free agent, the University of Buffalo product spent the past four years with the Chargers after earning a roster spot as an undrafted rookie in 2014. He made seven starts his first season and piled up 853 scrimmage yards in 14 games, but he's spent most of the past three years either rehabbing from injuries or buried on the depth chart. Oliver did finish last season healthy, serving as the Chargers' No. 2 back while Austin Ekeler missed Weeks 16 and 17 with a hand injury. The 27-year-old will need to battle for a spot on the 53-man roster if he ends up signing with the Bills.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Finishes season under 100 yards rushing
Oliver played in eight games this season, carrying the ball 35 times for 83 yards and also catching six passes for 26 yards.
Oliver was projected for a larger role in Week 17 with Melvin Gordon seemingly limited by an ankle injury, but the 2015 first-round pick exploded for over 120 total yards in the dominant win, relegating Oliver to his usual diminished workload. The 26-year-old was slotted to be the de-facto backup behind Gordon entering the year, but was quickly passed by explosive undrafted rookie Austin Ekeler, and was moved further down the depth chart after sustaining a broken wrist. An unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, Oliver might be a candidate to move on from the Chargers given the emergence of Ekeler and the potential return of Andre Williams (wrist), who hit injured reserve in Week 14. A small but stoutly built running back, Oliver doesn't figure to be anything more than a change-of-pace option for whatever team he joins.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Sticking in backup role Sunday
Oliver will serve in a reserve role Sunday against the Raiders with Melvin Gordon (ankle) active for the contest.
There was some thought that Oliver could enter the starting lineup for the regular-season finale after Melvin Gordon was unable to practice Wednesday due to the ankle sprain he sustained in the Week 16 win over the Jets, but Gordon ultimately gained clearance for Sunday after turning in a pair of limited sessions later in the week. Even so, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network suggests that the Chargers aren't sure how long Gordon will be able to play through the pain in his ankle Sunday, potentially setting up Oliver for an elevated role if Gordon incurs an in-game setback. Oliver didn't have much success against the Jets in his first extended action in several weeks, rushing eight times for just nine yards.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Could fill lead role in Week 17
Oliver could act as the Chargers' lead back Sunday against the Raiders if Melvin Gordon (ankle) is sidelined for the contest, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Oliver hasn't been pressed into a full-time role since 2014 and has languished in seven games in 2017, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry on 28 totes. However, with Gordon failing to practice Wednesday and uncertain to suit up in the regular-season finale while he nurses a sprained ankle and Austin Ekeler's broken ring finger likely to prevent him from contributing on offense, opportunity knocks for Oliver in a game that will determine the Chargers' playoff fate. Oliver's poor efficiency this season creates some justified skepticism about his fantasy prospects in Week 17, but the potential absences of Gordon and Ekeler from the game plan would likely leave Oliver in line to handle the overwhelming share of the touches out of the backfield.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Carries ball eight times in win
Oliver carried the ball eight times for nine yards in Sunday's 14-7 win over the Jets.
Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reported starter Melvin Gordon didn't leave Sunday's game unscathed, as the first-time 1,000-yard rusher was seen wearing a walking boot Tuesday. While head coach Anthony Lynn remained guarded talking about his star running back's health come Week 17, if Gordon were to miss any time Oliver is expected to see the majority of the carries, and potentially receiving targets as well given that the team's surprisingly sturdy rookie, Austin Ekeler, broke his ring finger in Week 15. While Ekeler was active Sunday, he didn't see a snap on offense meaning Oliver would in all likelihood be "the guy" against the Raiders if Gordon were to be limited in the final week of the regular season.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Could take on backup role
Oliver will step in as the Chargers' No. 2 running back if Austin Ekeler isn't able to play with a broken hand over the team's final two games of the regular season, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ekeler has mostly made an impact on passing downs and special teams, with the latter still a potential area for contribution if he ends up playing with a club on the hand. Even if Ekeler isn't placed on injured reserve, Oliver may take over as the top backup to workhorse Melvin Gordon. The role likely won't come with many touches, and the Chargers may adjust to Ekeler's absence by using Gordon more often on passing downs.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Should return as No. 3 RB
Oliver should reclaim his role as the Chargers' No. 3 running back after Andre Williams sustained a broken wrist in Sunday's win over the Redskins, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports.
Oliver has been a healthy scratch of late after recovering from the hamstring injury, since Williams provides more value on special teams. The veteran running back is likely to be active as the team's third running back going forward, but barring an injury to Melvin Gordon or Austin Ekeler, a significant offensive role should not be expected.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Inactive for Week 10
Oliver (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Since recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for two games in October, Oliver has been a healthy inactive in two of the Chargers' last three games. With rookie Austin Ekeler emerging as a useful complement to lead back Melvin Gordon, and Andre Williams offering more value on special teams, Oliver looks like he could be in street clothes for most of the second half of the season if all three of the Chargers' other running backs are healthy.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Runs for three yards
Oliver ran for three yards on three carries in Sunday's 21-13 loss to New England.
Oliver, fresh off a hamstring injury, didn't do much in limited opportunities on Sunday. The fourth-year back has seen more than four touches in just one of five outings thus far this season. He seems firmly stuck as Los Angeles' third back behind Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler with just five offensive plays on Sunday.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Inactive for Sunday
Oliver (coach's decision) is listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Oliver has finally recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for two weeks. However, he hasn't been given more than eight carries in a game this season, and behind a versatile Melvin Gordon, Oliver doesn't have much fantasy upside.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Practices fully Wednesday
Oliver (hamstring) practiced fully Wednesday, Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Oliver could return to the field Sunday against the Broncos, but steady touches aren't on tap for him as long as starter Melvin Gordon remains healthy enough to play.
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Chargers' Branden Oliver: Won't play Sunday
Oliver (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
With Oliver still sidelined, Austin Ekeler is in line Sunday to serve as Melvin Gordon's top backup and thus work in a complementary role in the Chargers' Week 6 backfield.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-8, 208 lbs |
| Birthplace: Miami, FL, USA |
| Age: 32 |
| School: Buffalo |
| Experience: 5 |