NFL injuries: Jamaal Charles, A.J. Green return to practice
Several injured stars were back on the practice field Thursday, though their availability for this weekend remains uncertain.
We didn't expect the Kansas City Chiefs star back at practice this early, but there he was on Thursday, running through cutting drills with his teammates, according to ESPN. The running back was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain earlier this week, casting serious doubt for his availability against the Miami Dolphins. His participation level on Friday will tell us more about his chances of playing this Sunday.
It's uncertain whether the Cincinnati Bengals receiver will be able to return from a toe injury in time to suit up this Sunday, but the fact that he was back at practice is encouraging.
"If it's feeling good, then I'm going to go," said Green, who told ESPN said he has not ruled out the possibility of playing against the Tennessee Titans. "If it's not, then we'll go from there."
Green struggled through the same injury last week but still played against the Atlanta Falcons. On the other hand, the fact that he aggravated it during that game might give the Bengals pause in pushing him out again too early.
The star linebacker missed practice on Thursday and has yet to be cleared by concussion protocol. Considering he’s suffered two concussions in as many weeks, it would seem a long shot for him to see the field against the Titans. Bengals beat reporter Jeremy Rauch of Fox 19 said he “would be shocked” if Burfict is cleared for this Sunday.
The Cleveland Browns running back hasn't played or practiced since spraining his right knee in Week 1, and that doesn't seem to be changing soon.
“I don’t see Tate being able to go this week,” Browns coach Mike Pettine told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal on Wednesday.
Last week, the NFL Network reported Tate was expected to miss two to four weeks. By that timetable, Week 4 is the earliest we could expect to see him.
The good news for the Browns is that they got their star tight end back at practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The bad news is that Cameron took the practice field with a red no-contact jersey and was “very limited” in the words of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who told Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer, “It can go either way.” Like Tate, Cameron has been out since Week 1. An MRI last week revealed no structural damage to his injured shoulder.
MJD returned to Oakland Raiders practice Thursday for the first time since undergoing a minor procedure in his hand after the opener. The running back wore protective gear over the surgery site but took part in most of the drills open to the media, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. His status for Sunday against the New England Patriots is unclear.
Jackson has been listed as day-to-day all week but has yet to practice. Washington coach Jay Gruden said Thursday he’s hoping the receiver will be on the practice field Friday.
“We’re going to challenge him, push him a little bit more [Friday],” Gruden said. “And we’ll see where he’s at but he’s still a little sore, but I think he’s getting better and the range of motion is better. You know, it’s an injury where I think a couple more days will do him a lot of good.”
You can bet Jackson will try his hardest to be on the field against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, on Sunday.
