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Chiefs’ McKnight ruptures Achilles tendon

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs could fill out quite a roster using players on injured reserve.

Joe McKnight is the latest to make the list, rupturing an Achilles tendon in practice on Thursday. He’s already the third Chiefs player to sustain a season-ending injury to an Achilles tendon, joining Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive tackle Mike DeVito.

Offensive tackle Jeff Allen is also on IR after hurting his biceps. Defensive tackle Mike Catapano is on the list after a lengthy illness. Wide receiver Kyle Williams, quarterback Tyler Bray, and safety Sanders Commings didn’t even make it through training camp before landing on the list.

Throw in a few players who have been banged up, including Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles and safety Eric Berry, and the Chiefs may have reached their limit of bad karma for the season.

“They always say, ‘Two things you can’t worry about are weather and injuries, because you can’t control them,’ ” Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. “It’s one of those things.”

McKnight has been plagued by injuries dating to his days at Southern California, and he never could stay healthy with the New York Jets. He spent last season out of the NFL entirely, but seemed to be catching his stride after enduring more physical hardships in training camp.

With Charles out of the lineup last week against Miami, McKnight stepped into the role of the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield. He wound up with six receptions for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 34-15 win over the Dolphins.

Even with Charles expected to return Monday night against New England, McKnight had started to elbow his way into regular playing time, if nothing else than on special teams.

“We’re really upset for him because he was a year-and-a-half without playing and coming out and having success, and doing a good job for me as a returner,” Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub said. “It’s a shame. I feel bad for him.”

The details of exactly how McKnight was injured are a bit sketchy.

Offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said that quarterback Alex Smith was throwing him the ball in a man-coverage situation with a linebacker, and that it was a non-contact situation.

“It tugs at your heart a little bit because he did battle through not only an injury here, but an injury in New York and sitting out of football,” Pederson said. “He’s put in the time, put in the effort all the way back into our OTAs and our offseason program, and he was a guy who brought some energy to that room. He was electric and brought a whole other skill set that we were able to use.”

Still, the Chiefs should be able to absorb McKnight’s injury better than some of the others they have sustained. Charles is mostly recovered from a slight high ankle sprain, and Knile Davis just ran for 132 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. Cyrus Gray also figures into the mix, and rookie De’Anthony Thomas could finally play this week after dealing with a hamstring injury.

“It’s fortunate that we still have depth at that position,” Pederson said. “It gives, again, the opportunity for Knile to continue to improve and continue to get better and have another good game like he did this past weekend. Cyrus is in that same situation.”

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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
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