Matt Schaub misses another practice, rookies Logan Thomas and Jimmy Garoppolo will start preseason finale
Matt Schaub missed another practice with an elbow injury; rookie quarterbacks Logan Thomas, Jimmy Garoppolo and David Fales will all start their teams’ respective preseason finales; and more from Monday in the NFL.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub missed practice again on Monday, as reported by Scott Bair of CSN California. Schaub was out on Sunday as well, and has struggled with his arm strength throughout the preseason. He's got a case of elbow tendinitis, which can greatly affect arm strength but is also considered a minor injury that should heal with a little bit of time.
Unfortunately for Schaub, that could give the Raiders an excuse to start rookie quarterback Derek Carr. He's looked solid in the preseason, while Schaub has looked like the same guy who threw multiple pick-sixes with the Houston Texans before being benched last season. Some have pointed out that "elbow soreness" was the same thing that sidelined Matt Flynn prior to Terrelle Pryor taking his starting job last season.
***
Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson returned to team practice on Monday, according to Jay Adams of the team website. Jackson has been dealing with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of camp and the preseason. He's missed 27 days in total, but has been on track for a Week 1 appearance.
With the third preseason game out of the way, it would be surprising if we saw Jackson in any capacity prior to the beginning of the regular season. If he gets any snaps in the preseason finale, it couldn’t be more than a couple. Jackson is 31 years old and missed four games last season, but when he’s healthy he’s effective.
***
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins was at practice without any limitations on Monday, according to Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550. Watkins has been dealing with a rib injury and missed the team's last preseason game. Watkins has been an effective weapon in training camp, but in two preseason games he has just three catches for 21 yards.
It’s unclear if Watkins will get any playing time in the team’s preseason finale, but the Bills are expected to play some of their starters for a portion of the game. If Watkins is healthy, it stands to reason he’d get a few snaps, but the Bills are likely confident enough in the first-round pick to not risk further injury if it comes down to it.
Position Battles
The Minnesota Vikings will go with Matt Cassel as their starting quarterback for the regular season, according to a report from Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. Cassel has been battling rookie second-round pick Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job and both have played well to this point, though some would argue that Bridgewater has outperformed the veteran.
Still, Cassel completed 66 percent of his passes for 367 yards with two touchdowns and an interception through three preseason games (he started all of them). Bridgewater threw for 266 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in three games on top of that. If Cassel struggles through the first half of the season, it stands to reason that the Vikings would turn to Bridgewater.
Thomas, Garoppolo, Fales will get plenty of work in preseason finale
Rookie quarterbacks will be getting long looks in their teams’ fourth preseason games this week:
-- The Chicago Bears will start sixth-round pick David Fales against the Cleveland Browns.
-- The Arizona Cardinals will start fourth-round pick Logan Thomas against the San Diego Chargers, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports.
-- The New England Patriots will start second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo against the New York Giants, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Fales and Garoppolo are playing behind entrenched starters Jay Cutler and Tom Brady, though Garoppolo will be looking to show the Patriots he can be the primary backup ahead of Ryan Mallett. Thomas is behind Carson Palmer, who has struggled off and on and could conceivably give up the starting job if the Cardinals lose multiple games right out of the gate. It should be interesting to see the rookies start these games, given that it looks like we'll be going without any rookie quarterbacks starting in Week 1 of the regular season.
Tedford undergoes “medical procedure”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford underwent a "medical procedure" on Monday, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. The news comes from head coach Lovie Smith, who said that Tedford will be out a "short amount of time." It's unclear what the procedure was at this point, but he's been around for the whole offseason and the important preseason games, so the offense is already installed and this will only be a big deal if he starts missing time in the regular season.
See More:
