QUARTERBACKS
Kevin Kolb, BUF – Patella Contusion
Bills’ QB Kevin Kolb remains limited in practice as he continues to recover from a bruised knee-cap that occurred in a freak accident over a week ago. According to reports Kolb was heading out to the practice field when he lost his footing on a wet rubber mat. He fell directly on his left knee and after being examined by the team’s medical staff he was escorted back to the locker room and he did not return. Kolb later described the injury as “a little knee cap damage” and he was held out of practice for the next 6 days as a precaution. There are also reports that he left training camp to morn the death of a family member. He returned last Friday but did not play in Sunday’s preseason game. It isn’t clear if Kolb will be able to play in the team’s next preseason game, but he will see an increase in practice reps this week as long as his knee continues to improve.
RUNNING BACKS
Ahmad Bradshaw, IND – Foot Surgery
In fairly surprising news the Colts have activated RB Ahmad Bradshaw from the active/PUP list, but as it turns out it isn’t because he is completely healthy and ready to resume full practices. According to reports the NFL forced the Colts to do this because an investigation revealed that Bradshaw took some hand-offs in practice over a week ago. The Colts officially classified the hand-offs as “mental reps,” however the league determined that the hand-offs were enough to constitute practice, and since he officially practice he was no longer eligible for the PUP list. He’s still about a week away from taking part in team drills so he’ll likely be limited to individual workouts until then. Team officials expect him to be ready for Week 1 of the regular season.
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Jamaal Charles, KC – Undisclosed Foot Injury
Chiefs’ RB Jamaal Charles left the field on a cart after suffering an undisclosed foot injury in practice on Monday and his status for the remainder of the pre-season remains unknown. It isn’t exactly clear how the injury occurred but he was having trouble “pushing off” directly afterwards and although he could walk the medical staff decided to take him back to the locker room on a cart as a precaution. X-rays were negative and he did undergo an MRI but the results have not been made public. There are a number of reports that have called the injury a strain and a sprain, however the exact nature and severity of the injury remains a mystery. Hopefully we’ll find out more after he is reevaluated today.
Chris Ivory, NYJ – Strained Hamstring
Jets’ RB Chris Ivory, who had been sidelined because of a hamstring strain, returned to full practice on Monday and head coach Rex Ryan believes he is back to full strength and ready to contribute. Ivory was out for a week and missed the team’s first pre-season game after complaining of tightness in his hamstring following a training camp practice. Fortunately with the rest his leg has improved and after taking part in individual drills in practice this past weekend he was cleared to take part in 11-on-11 drills on Monday. According to reports his leg held up well and he could make his pre-season debut this upcoming weekend against the Jaguars.
Eddie Lacy, GB – Strained Hamstring
Packers’ rookie RB Eddie Lacy missed the team’s first preseason game after straining his hamstring in practice, however the injury is not considered serious and he could return as early as sometime this week. Head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that the team has no intention of rushing Lacy back, but he did tell reporters that he expected the injury to heal quickly. We’ll keep you posted on his recovery, but with the right amount of rest and treatment he has plenty of time to heal before the start of the regular season.
Jonathan Stewart, CAR – Bi-lateral Arthroscopic Ankle Surgeries
Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera told reporters after Monday’s practice that RB Jonathan Stewart is still on schedule to be ready for the start of the regular season. Stewart, who remains on the active/PUP list while he recovers from off-season arthroscopic surgery on both ankles, has not been cleared to practice with the team and while Rivera wasn’t sure when he would be ready to take part in team drills he did indicate that his return would be sooner rather than later.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Danario Alexander, SD – Torn ACL
Chargers’ WR Danario Alexander will miss the entire 2013 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in practice last week. Alexander was hurt in a collision with teammate Shareece Wright and an MRI has since confirmed that the ACL will need to be surgically reconstructed. Alexander was projected to be one of the Chargers’ starting wide receivers this season, but he has reportedly undergone five surgeries on his left knee since his sophomore year in college. So with two severely compromised knee’s team officials aren’t sure if he’ll ever be 100% again.
Justin Blackmon, JAC – Groin Surgery
Jaguars’ WR Justin Blackmon, who has been out while recovering from off-season groin surgery, was activated from the active/PUP list on Monday and he will begin to participate in team drills this week. Blackmon was reportedly limited in June minicamp practices because of a lingering groin problem and after undergoing an MRI the medical staff determined that his groin needed to be surgically repaired. The exact nature of the injury and procedure to repair it has not been made public, but he has made steady progress in his recovery and he is getting closer to 100%. Blackmon is still going to miss the first four games of the regular season while serving a league-imposed schedule for substance abuse.
Plaxico Burress, PIT – Torn Rotator Cuff
Steelers’ veteran WR Plaxico Burress has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and he underwent season-ending surgery to repair it on Monday. Burress was reportedly injured while trying to make a diving catch in practice last Thursday. He came down hard on his right shoulder and had to be carted to the locker room. An MRI that night revealed at least one tear in the rotator cuff muscles in his right shoulder and according to team officials surgery was needed to repair the damage. Burress was projected to be the team’s fourth of fifth wide receiver this season, so this isn’t necessarily a big loss for the Steelers’ offense.
Malcom Floyd, SD – Sprained Knee
Chargers’ WR Malcom Floyd suffered a sprained knee in practice on Monday, however the nature and severity of the sprain have not been made public and his status for the remainder of the preseason is currently unknown. Floyd collided with teammate Shareece Wright during a team drill and he stayed down for several minutes in a lot of pain. He was eventually carted to the locker room where he was examined and treated. Floyd underwent an MRI on Monday evening and team officials are calling the injury a sprain, but we still don’t know how serious the injury is and how long Floyd will be sidelined. On an interesting note, Chargers CB Shareece Wright was also involved in a collision in practice last week that resulted in WR Danario Alexander tearing his ACL. So Wright has taken out both starting wideouts in seemingly freak incidents.
