Category: Injuries

Alec Pierce’s foot injury is ‘nothing serious’

Shane Steichen downplayed Alec Pierce’s foot injury.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce wasn’t on the field when the media arrived for their final look at OTAs due to a foot injury, and the team may be holding him out as a precaution.

The second-year wide receiver was absent from practice last week when the media was there, but head coach Shane Steichen downplayed the injury when speaking with reporters.

“He’s got a little foot. It’s nothing serious. He could’ve practiced today. We were just resting him,” said Steichen on Wednesday.

The Colts have been dealing with a myriad of injuries throughout OTAs. Between players working through offseason surgeries and getting injured during practice, it’s difficult to truly get a gauge on what the starting lineups look like.

Pierce is looking to build off a solid, yet inconsistent, rookie campaign. He recorded 41 receptions for 593 yards, averaging an impressive 14.5 yards per catch. However, he went through the entire month of November (four games) with just four receptions for 51 yards.

The second-year wideout dealt with some hardships at the quarterback position in 2022 and now will be a part of the development of No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson.

We’ll see how serious this foot injury is when minicamp arrives June 13-15 to end the offseason workout schedule.

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Injury, absence updates from latest Chiefs OTAs practice

A look at the injuries and absences from the final practice of #Chiefs OTAs open to the media.

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The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their final organized team activity practice open to media members on Thursday. They’ll have just one more practice on Friday before breaking ahead of mandatory minicamp, which begins on Tuesday, June 13.

Andy Reid spoke to the media on Thursday, but he didn’t provide any official injury update. The team is not required to report injuries at this time in the offseason.

Reid did speak on first-round draft pick DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who is back in the mix after being limited due to injuries, including thumb surgery.

“Yeah, he is (back to full participation),” Reid said. “He had that thumb surgery and then had a hamstring too. He’s worked through all of that and he’s back in the swing (of things). He’s doing better every day, which is a good thing.”

Arrowhead Pride’s Pete Sweeney noted the following 10 players absent during Thursday’s practice:

  • Chris Jones
  • Tershawn Wharton
  • L’Jarius Sneed
  • Jaylen Watson
  • Leo Chenal
  • Blake Bell
  • Jody Fortson
  • Jerick McKinnon
  • Isiah Pacheco
  • Justyn Ross
  • Trey Smith

It’s important to note that OTAs are voluntary, but we do know that at least some of these players are dealing with injury (Wharton and Pacheco, for instance).

KSHB-TV’s Aaron Ladd reported that Trent McDuffie was present at practice, but again didn’t have a helmet and was spotted on the sidelines. Mike Edwards was also on the sideline without a helmet according to Sweeney. That’s consistent with last Thursday’s practice as well.

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Bears safety Eddie Jackson has ‘worked his tail off’ to get back on practice field

Bears safety Eddie Jackson practiced for the first time Wednesday since suffering a season-ending foot injury last season.

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Bears safety Eddie Jackson was one of several veterans who returned to the practice field during Wednesday’s voluntary organized team activities.

While Jackson has been at Halas Hall rehabbing and participating in team meetings, this marked the first time Jackson practiced since suffering a Lisfranc injury, which didn’t require surgery, last November against the Jets.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus is impressed with how far Jackson has come.

“Eddie has worked his tail off to get back to where he is,” Eberflus said. “He’s in really good shape for working with the rehab staff, and I want to commend those guys, the training staff, for getting him back—and commend Eddie also for the hard work that he’s put in to get to this point.”

According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock, Jackson participated in both individual and team drills on Wednesday, as well as did some extra sprints. While Jackson’s rep count was lower than others, the Bears usually have a ramp up period for players returning from injury.

With mandatory minicamp next week, we’ll see how involved Jackson is during practice before the team breaks for the summer.

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Tennessee Titans injury updates from mandatory minicamp

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel provided updates on a handful of players who have been absent from mandatory minicamp.

The Tennessee Titans held their third and final day of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, and we finally got at least some semblance of an update on players who have been absent thus far.

As of Wednesday, those players included Caleb Farley, Kristian Fulton, Josh Thompson, Harold Landry, Sam Okuayinonu, Dillon Radunz and Trevon Wesco. Elijah Molden was part of that group before returning Wednesday.

After the final minicamp practice, head coach Mike Vrabel fielded questions on those players who have been absent. Some of his answers were more in depth than others, but we’ll take what we can get from the always guarded Vrabel.

Panthers HC Frank Reich ‘not concerned’ with CB depth after Jaycee Horn injury

Panthers HC Frank Reich said he’s not concerned with his secondary’s lack of CB depth following Jaycee Horn’s latest setback.

With or without Jaycee Horn, the Carolina Panthers are not deep at the cornerback position. And for the next few installments of offseason practices, they’ll be without him.

That, however, didn’t seem to bother head coach Frank Reich too much on Thursday. Following this morning’s session of organized team activities, Reich was asked how much of a concern Horn’s latest injury is for his defense.

“Not concerned,” he replied. “This offseason, obviously, with CJ [Henderson] not takin’ some reps and Donte [Jackson] not takin’ reps—so our secondary guys got a lot of work. This injury to Jaycee, thankfully, it’s a non-surgical injury—and so he should be ready for training camp. But I love the work our secondary’s done. Gives us a lot of confidence in our guys.”

Horn sustained an injury to his left ankle and foot during a recent workout. The third-year defender, who missed 17 games between 2021 and 2022, will sit out the rest of OTAs as well as the upcoming minicamp.

As noted by Reich, the Panthers have also been dealing with injuries to fellow corners CJ Henderson and Donte Jackson, who tore his Achilles tendon last season. Other current options on the roster include Keith Taylor Jr., Stantley Thomas-Oliver III, Eric Rowe, Herb Miller and a trio of undrafted rookies.

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Panthers CB Jaycee Horn to miss rest of OTAs, minicamp with foot injury

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn, who is now in a walking boot, will miss the remainder of OTAs and minicamp due to a foot injury. He is expected to make a full recovery by the start of training camp.

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As announced by the Carolina Panthers on Thursday morning, cornerback Jaycee Horn will miss the remainder of organized team activities and mandatory minicamp due to an ankle and foot injury. Per the official release, he is expected to be “fully recovered” for the start of training camp.

The injury, which Horn sustained during a personal workout last weekend, is not to the same foot he broke during his rookie campaign. That setback, which occurred in just the third outing of his NFL career, caused the eighth overall pick to miss the final 13 games of the 2021 campaign.

Horn also missed an additional four games in 2022 due to a rib strain and a broken wrist. He’s sat out a combined 17 tilts between his first two professional seasons—which is one more than he’s played.

The 23-year-old, in a recent interview with The Athletic, told reporter Joe Person that despite the injury woes, he believes he’s in a good spot moving forward.

“None of that stuff ever bothered me because I’m the one out there trying to get it done. It’s just been unfortunate injuries,” he said. “It’s been all bone breaks, no soft tissue or anything. Just cracked bones. I can’t control that, man. All I can do is try to play some good football when I’m out there and try to take all the precautionary measures to stay on the field.”

Hopefully for Horn, who will be in a walking boot for a few weeks, this latest measure is just a precautionary one.

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Bears WR Darnell Mooney ‘on track’ for training camp

Barring any setbacks, Darnell Mooney will be ready for training camp next month.

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Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney hasn’t been on the practice field during organized team activities (OTAs) as he continues to rehab his foot, which he fractured last November.

After news that safety Eddie Jackson practiced for the first time since suffering a Lisfranc injury last season, the hope was Mooney would also be ready to go. But while Mooney hasn’t participated in OTAs, head coach Matt Eberflus believes – “barring any setbacks” – that Mooney will be ready in time for training camp.

“Darnell is working his tail off,” Eberflus said. “He’s on track. He’ll be ready (for training camp).”

Mooney led the Bears in receiving before suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 12. But it was Mooney’s breakout 2021 campaign that turned heads, as he logged his first 1,000-yard receiving season as the WR2 behind Allen Robinson.

Now, Mooney will get a chance to thrive in that role again after Chicago traded for DJ Moore, who will be Justin Fields’ top target, earlier this offseason.

Mooney is entering a contract year with Chicago, where he’ll be looking to prove himself in a crowded receivers room. Teammate Chase Claypool, who the team traded for last November, is also in the final year of his rookie deal.

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Michael Thomas makes surprise appearance at Saints OTAs

Michael Thomas made a surprise appearance at Saints OTAs on Tuesday, working with his coaches and catching passes from Derek Carr:

This is new: the New Orleans Saints hit the practice field on Tuesday with wide receiver Michael Thomas in attendance, working off to the side with coaches and members of the training staff while catching passes from his new quarterback Derek Carr (plus Jameis Winston and Jake Haener when they weren’t needed for other drills).

It’s surprising because just last week Saints general manager Mickey Loomis made it sound like they didn’t expect Thomas to be at the facility until training camp, but now he’s present and working. The Saints are still limiting his participation as he finishes rehab from last year’s toe surgery, but Thomas said after practice he plans on “Day 1, full speed,” when training camp opens in late July.

Here are some photos, videos, and highlights from Thomas at Tuesday’s practice session:

Texans DT Hassan Ridgeway, LB Denzel Perryman practice during OTAs

The Houston Texans had two injured defenders practice during OTAs June 6 in DT Hassan Ridgeway and LB Denzel Perryman.

While organized team activities are all voluntary, it nevertheless helps the morale when the attendance approaches 100%.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Houston Texans got two of their injured defenders to return to OTAs Tuesday in defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and linebacker Denzel Perryman, both of whom the Texans signed as free agents at the start of the new league year in March.

Ridgeway has been working through a groin injury while Perryman continues to rehabilitate from labrum surgery.

The Texans were also able to see defensive tackle Maliek Collins return to offseason workouts at Houston Methodist Training Center.

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Tariq Woolen’s knee injury will take 4-6 weeks to recover from

Seattle’s top corner is sidelined until then

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The Seattle Seahawks have a star in the making with cornerback Tariq Woolen. In his rookie season, Woolen was tied for the league-lead in interceptions with six – including returning one for a touchdown in Seattle’s 48-45 win over Detroit.

However, fans will have to wait a little longer this offseason before they can see practice highlights from the Seahawks’ top corner. Woolen recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee after walking on the practice field a few weeks ago. While Woolen is sidelined for the time being, head coach Pete Carroll did give good news regarding his recovery.

When asked, Carroll elaborated how they believe it will be a 4-6 week recovery for Woolen.

If things go according to plan, it won’t be long until the 12th Man sees Woolen making plays like this again.

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