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Williams latest Carolina back hampered by injury

By WTOP Staff

BILL KISER
Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, the latest setback for Carolina’s rushing game.

Williams, who had just returned to the lineup after missing two games with an injured hamstring, injured an ankle during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

“His foot’s sore,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Monday. “It doesn’t look like it’s anything structural, but it’s sore. So he’s probably going to start this week off as doubtful.”

Williams, who was seen in the locker room Monday wearing a walking boot on his left foot, will be evaluated later this week, Rivera said. His absence from the lineup, however long, hits a roster already thin at running back.

Pro Bowl fullback Mike Tolbert was put on short-term injured reserve last week with a hairline fracture in his left leg. He will not be eligible to return to the lineup until mid-November.

Jonathan Stewart (sprained right knee) and Fozzy Whittaker (quadriceps) are out indefinitely, and backup fullback Richie Brockel hurt his ankle Sunday.

Undrafted rookie Darrin Reaves, who had 26 yards on 12 carries against the Ravens, will start against the Bears.

“I’m starting to be able to live my dreams out, and that’s a good feeling,” he said. “Not under the circumstances we have, with so many guys dinged up, but it’s still a good feeling.”

The effect of the injuries on the Panthers’ offense was evident against Baltimore. Carolina finished with 67 yards rushing in its third consecutive game with less than 100 on the ground.

Rivera said earlier Monday that the Panthers were considering bringing in a free agent to shore up the running game. Later that day, the Panthers signed veteran running back Chris Ogbonnaya.

Ogbonnaya, a seventh-round pick by St. Louis in the 2009 draft, has played in 46 games with the Rams, Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns. He has rushed for 660 yards and caught 96 passes for 714 yards.

To make room on the 53-man roster, Carolina waived running back Tauren Poole, who was signed to the practice squad last week before being moved to the active roster the day before the Ravens game.

Rivera said Whittaker would return to practice on Wednesday. His status for Sunday’s game, like Stewart and Williams, is still undecided.

Brockel said his injury wasn’t structural, and he should be ready to play against the Bears.

“We’ll see how (Stewart) is on Wednesday,” Rivera said. “He did a little bit of work on Friday and Saturday, and didn’t look as good as I was hoping. We’ll see how he is come Wednesday when he does some more work.

“Fozzy did some good things for us (in the preseason), but he’s coming off an injury, so I don’t know how available he’ll be. That’s why hopefully Reaves will continue to get better, and if we end up having an emergency guy come it, hopefully that’s the kind of guy who can pick it up.”

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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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