Surgery to repair DeMarco Murray's broken hand has the Dallas Cowboys running back's status for Sunday up in the air. The ultimate decision for whether he goes or not is apparently his.
DeMarco Murray will decide if he plays, Andre Johnson passes concussion protocol
A broken hand might not keep the league’s top rusher off the field this weekend; Johnson has been cleared to face the Ravens; and a former Jet is criticizing Rex Ryan’s staff for not coaching him.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL's leading rusher told ESPNDallas.com that doctors have told him he can play against the Indianapolis Colts if his surgically repaired left mitt feels up to it, a prognosis confirmed by team owner Jerry Jones on Thursday.
“I’m a very competitive person and I want to help this team out as much I can, so whatever that portrays me doing Sunday, then we’ll see,” said Murray, who was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. “But I’ve had two good days, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Murray had a plate and screws inserted into his hand on Monday night and wore a protective shell over it during practice.
Andre Johnson passes concussion protocol
The Houston Texans have yet to name a starting quarterback between Case Keenum and Thad Lewis, but whoever gets the nod will have the advantage of getting to throw to Johnson.
The star wideout has passed the league's concussion protocol and is cleared to play this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to the Houston Chronicle. Johnson took a scary headshot from Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith (who was flagged and fined) in Week 14 and was inactive last week against the Indianapolis Colts.
The news doesn't look as good for Johnson's receiving partner, DeAndre Hopkins, who may be held out by an ankle sprain.
Keenum, who was signed off the street after the Texans lost both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage to injury last week, is the favorite to earn the start under center. It's worth noting that Keenum connected with Johnson for 318 yards and three scores over his first two NFL starts last season.
Former Jet says Rex Ryan’s staff didn’t coach him
Cornerback Josh Thomas was cut by the New York Jets on Tuesday. After being picked up by the Lions, he spoke freely with the Detroit Free Press about his former coaching staff. His description wasn't exactly encouraging.
”I felt that I wasn’t given the attention necessary, as far as being engaged from a coach-to-player standpoint (with the Jets) and knowing the things I need to work on. “It became to where I was there as a player and wanting and desiring some feedback that wasn’t given, so sometimes I may have been standing there with a deer-like look in my eyes and trying to figure out what I needed to do.
“I’m happy to be here [in Detroit]. I’m so focused on what I missed the most ... being coached, being coached by my coach. I suffered there the most, ‘cause I was not getting better.”
The criticism of anyone fresh off of being fired should be taken with a grain of salt, and Thomas was quick to point out that his style of learning may simply not have meshed with the Jets’ approach. But it’s not crazy to think that a lame duck staff has mailed it in.
Jeff Tedford hired by CFL team
Tedford wasn't out of coaching long. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, who agreed to part ways with the club after an extended health absence, has agreed to become the next head coach of the CFL's B.C. Lions, according to Pro Football Talk.
Tedford took an indefinite leave of absence from the Bucs back in September to recover from a coronary angioplasty. Earlier this month, the team announced a mutual agreement to release him from his contractual obligations, with Tedford saying he didn’t want to disrupt the team’s chemistry by coming back midseason.
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