Brandon Flowers Injury: Updates on Chargers CB's Concussion and Return

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 2

Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego confirms Brandon Flowers is active for Week 9:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 30

Ricky Henne of Chargers.com reported on Brandon Flowers' participation in practice:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 29

Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego updated Brandon Flowers' status from Chargers practice:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 23

Brandon Flowers is officially inactive for Week 8 according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 22

The San Diego Chargers confirmed that Brandon Flowers will miss Thursday's game:

Original Text

San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers left in the second quarter of a Week 7 matchup against his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, with a concussion.

Amid a short week and another monumental AFC West clash on Thursday with the Denver Broncos, Flowers' status for Week 8 is in doubt.

Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego reported the latest details on Flowers' injury situation on Monday:

"

[Flowers] suffered a concussion against the Chiefs, the injury apparently coming on a collision with running back Jamaal Charles during a second-quarter touchdown run. Flowers played part of the next defensive series before sitting out the rest of the game. He very well could be sidelined Thursday versus the Broncos.

"

Chargers head coach Mike McCoy explained the strategy behind sending Flowers back into the Kansas City game, per the report.

"...If they say the player can go back out there, the player goes back out. ... After further evaluation, he came out of the game," said McCoy.

The team's official Twitter account highlighted the significance of Flowers playing against the Chiefs last week:

It will be critical for San Diego to have as much help as it can get in the secondary, facing the likes of Peyton Manning and Denver's potent passing attack.

Ricky Henne of Chargers.com expressed optimism about Flowers playing in Week 7, but also added the discouraging news about rookie first-round cornerback Jason Verrett:

Marty Caswell of The Mighty 190 documented what McCoy said about Verrett on Monday, too:

Flowers is a valuable member of the defensive backfield. If he is fit enough to play in Week 8 and gets through without any trouble, his health for the remainder of the year would benefit from the extra rest following a Thursday game as it is.

Being without both Flowers and Verrett would be tough for San Diego to overcome on the road. If the game does turn into a shootout, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers would be as strong of a candidate as any to help his side trade scores with Manning and Co.

Concussions are a tricky, hot-button issue in the NFL's advocacy for player-safety issues. There would be considerable risk in putting Flowers in given the established circumstances and the quick turnaround for a trip to Mile High.