Tag: ankle

Cameron Jordan had ankle surgery, on track for offseason program

A midseason ankle injury slowed Cameron Jordan down in a big way last year. He’s since had surgery, and isn’t expected to miss a day of the Saints’ offseason program:

It’s no secret that Cameron Jordan didn’t look like himself in 2023. He played in all 17 games but only bagged two sacks and three tackles for loss, the lowest totals since his rookie season way back in 2011. The New Orleans Saints defensive end underwent offseason surgery to get right. Both Jordan and his coaches blame his poor production on that midseason ankle injury, but head coach Dennis Allen doesn’t expect him to miss any time in spring training while healing up.

“I don’t think it’s going to be anything that’s going to keep him out of the spring,” Allen told reporters at NFL owners meetings this week. Teams with returning head coaches, like the Saints, are allowed to open their offseason program on April 15.

While he doesn’t anticipate any setbacks from this ankle surgery, Allen did point out that the team plans on lightening Jordan’s offseason work to keep him fresh and rested when the season kicks off in September.

Allen continued: “I do think when you have a guy like Cam who’s getting a little older, how much do we do with him in the spring, how much do we do with him in training camp, I think those are all things that we’ve got to take into account when we’re dealing with a more veteran player.”

Jordan will turn 35 in June, making him one of the oldest players in the NFL along with his teammate Demario Davis. Their only senior among the league’s defenders is Calais Campbell. Left tackle Trent Williams and quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson are the other active players who can say they’re older than Jordan.

It isn’t unusual for the Saints to scale back practice reps for older players to save them for the regular season. They took that approach with Drew Brees in the final years of his career, too. Giving Jordan a day off here or there could pay off.

But the most important thing is recovering fully from this ankle injury. Jordan’s snap counts plummeted after he suffered both lower and higher ankle sprains in his left foot, and he wasn’t able to push the pocket on passing downs because of it. The hope is he can return to health and bounce back.

What complicates things is that both Jordan and the player he figures to split snaps with, Chase Young, are each recovering from surgeries. Any time they miss — and, again, Allen said Jordan should be back soon — is going to disrupt the chemistry in that group at defensive end. Hopefully everyone can heal up and get time in training camp to work together and develop a plan for attacking Week 1 in September.

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Report: Alvin Kamara is ‘day to day’ with sprained ankle before Saints vs. Falcons

NOF’s Nick Underhill reports Alvin Kamara is ‘day to day’ with a sprained ankle. There’s a real chance the star running back misses Week 18’s season finale:

This could be a real problem. Alvin Kamara left the New Orleans Saints’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a sprained ankle and didn’t return to action after halftime, and there’s a real chance he won’t be available when they kick off the regular season finale with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill repots that Kamara “is truly day to day.”

When discussing Kamara’s status with reporters Sunday evening, Saints head coach Dennis Allen said: “So he sprained his ankle, I think it was on their sideline before the half. Kind of came in, got it looked at, came out after the half to try to test it out, and didn’t look he was going to be functional enough to help us win. I don’t know (whether it’s a high-ankle sprain), I haven’t gotten all the details as to what it is.”

If Kamara can’t go, the Saints are awfully shorthanded at running back. Rookie draft pick Kendre Miller has a chance to return this week but he hasn’t played since Week 9 due to his own ankle injury. Veteran backup Jamaal Williams had his most productive game in Kamara’s absence against the Buccaneers. Jordan Mims and James Robinson are options on the practice squad.

It’s also possible New Orleans could sign a player from another team to round out the depth chart — their former backup Tony Jones Jr. could be signed from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad — but no matter how you look at it, it’s an unsteady situation. And it looks like a tough matchup for an Atlanta defense that has played the run well this season. The Falcons are tied for the third-fewest touchdown runs (9) while ranking top-10 in yards allowed per carry (4.0). The Saints need all hands on deck.

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Marshon Lattimore (ankle) questionable to return vs. Vikings

Marshon Lattimore (ankle) questionable to return as another Saints starter injured vs. Vikings

The New Orleans Saints announced that cornerback Marshon Lattimore would be questionable to return during Week 10’s game with the Minnesota Vikings, meaning a third starter was injured at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday: Lattimore, quarterback Derek Carr, and wide receiver Michael Thomas. A very healthy Saints squad is suddenly looking like they could some rest in the bye week.

Lattimore was injured when another player rolled onto his leg while trying to help out with a tackle late in the fourth quarter; his teammate Malcolm Roach got the wind knocked out of him in the collision but was able to return to play. Lattimore left the game on a medical cart for further evaluation, though he was able to get to the sideline on his own without assistance.

Veteran backup Isaac Yiadom stepped in for Lattimore with Paulson Adebo remaining out on the other side and Alontae Taylor sticking to the slot.

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Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend: Ankle injury is ‘improving really quickly’

Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend told reporters that his ankle injury is “improving really quickly” during comments after practice on Monday. | from: @WesleyRoesch

Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend rolled his ankle last week during a training camp practice, but the injury appears to be healing quickly according to the man himself.

“It’s just kind of been a day-to-day thing,” Townsend said during Monday’s press conference. “It’s been improving really quickly which is good. It just got twisted up a little bit last week, but like I said, it’s been feeling really good.”

Townsend, who has been practicing off and on despite the injury, didn’t make it seem like he plans to miss any significant time in the coming weeks.

“I’ve been working with [assistant athletic trainer David] Glover in the training room, and it’s been progressing really well,” he said. “I don’t really expect it to be lingering or anything like that, so feeling good.”

Barring a setback, it sounds like Townsend will be playing in the preseason. At the very least, Townsend should be ready to go once Week 1 kicks off on September 7 against the Detroit Lions.

That’s good news, as Townsend was the NFL’s best punter in 2022, posting the league’s best net punting average (45.6) during the regular season. Now entering his fourth season, the 26-year-old hopes to come off his best season by solidifying himself as a consistently-elite punter.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes provides update on right ankle injury

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says he’s still not quite 100% in his recovery from the right ankle injury he suffered vs. the #Jaguars in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs.

There weren’t too many injury updates at the onset of the offseason program for the Kansas City Chiefs, but we did get some news on the most-talked-about ankle injury in the history of football.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes suffered a right ankle injury in the second quarter of the AFC’s divisional round of the playoffs against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played on what would later be described as a high ankle sprain throughout the remainder of the playoffs, including in Super Bowl LVII.

Even over two months removed from the last game played, Mahomes indicated to reporters that he’s still not quite 100% and has some limitations due to the injury.

“Now, it’s been more about just kind of managing it, but getting the mobility back as best I possibly can,” Mahomes explained. “I wouldn’t say I’m 100%, but I’ve had no, necessarily, limitations. When you go through the grind of the week of training, you’re trying to push it and go through the rehab process, but at the same time, you want to make sure you’re still building. You might be a little sore on the weekends, but I think we’ve done a great job of pushing it to the right limit to where now I’m throwing and stuff like that and having no limitations there. Running and cutting, there will still be a few limitations going for the next few weeks.”

Mahomes said that the ankle is less significant in terms of his offseason work than the foot injury he worked back from during the 2021 NFL offseason. That injury required surgery and for him to wear a boot, but this injury required neither.

“I felt like we improved, especially these last few weeks, a ton. As far as the swelling, (it) went down finally and I don’t have that soreness as much as I was having it after just a few days of work. (With) the improvements that we’re making these last few weeks, I have a feeling that by the time we get to training camp, it won’t even be any question at all.  By the time we get to OTAs, I don’t think there will be any limitations on reps or anything like that, especially if I’m not running around a ton. At the same time, we’ll make sure with the rehab process that by the time I get to training camp that I can just roll out there and feel fine.”

All-in-all, Mahomes feels like he’s in a good place in terms of his rehab and recovery to be ready to go without any limitations come Week 1.

“I’m happy with where I’m at,” Mahomes said. “We’ll keep pushing it and getting me to the right spot for the beginning of the season.”

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes aggravates ankle injury in Super Bowl LVII

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes appears to have aggravated his ankle injury against the #Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

A nightmare situation is occurring for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

Late in the second quarter, trying to make a play happen to help the team even the score ahead of halftime, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes very clearly aggravated his ankle injury.

The play was botched from the start with a low snap from Creed Humphrey. With the timing of the play thrown off, Mahomes was scrambling out of the pocket, trying to pick up a first down on third-and-long. He was wrapped up down by his ankles by Eagles’ LB T.J. Edwards on the play and that seemed to be the issue.

Mahomes stayed down on the field for a moment before limping over to the sideline where he was in a ton of pain. He was met on the sideline by the training staff and by the one-minute mark in the second quarter, he was back standing on the sideline. We’ll see how it impacts Mahomes in the second half.

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Latest update on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ ankle ahead of Super Bowl LVII

#Chiefs’ Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes provided some more clarity about the star QBs ankle injury on Wednesday.

The most talked about ankle in the world got some more press on Wednesday.

Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid was the first to get a question about the ankle. After informing media members that he doesn’t drink coffee, Reid was asked what he’d need to see from Mahomes to feel comfortable with where Mahomes is at in his recovery.

“He’s been doing really well with his ankle,” Reid said. “We had a fast practice a couple of days ago and he moved pretty well. He can really do just about everything. So, at least everything in the game plan that we’ve asked him to do. I think he’ll be fine today.”

As for Mahomes, he remained consistent in his answers from opening night and Tuesday.

“Yeah, I don’t think you’ll know exactly until you get to game day,” Mahomes said. “I’m definitely in a better spot. I’m definitely moving around better than I was last week or two weeks ago. And so, it’s just trying to continue to get the treatment and the rehab and get as close as I can to 100 percent and rely on some adrenaline to give me a little extra when I’m on the field. It’s going to be definitely better, more mobile, I’ll be able to move around better for sure.”

It appears that Mahomes is getting better each and every day. He expects that so long as he has no setbacks and continues to do his treatment and rehab work, he’ll be in a better spot this week. At the same time, he’s hesitant to put any specific percentage number on it until he gets out on the field at State Farm Stadium.

“We’ll see on game day how close to 100 percent I can be,” Mahomes concluded.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes provides update on his ankle injury

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says he didn’t take any steps backward in his recovery after playing through a high ankle sprain in the AFC title game.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says that he’s no worse for wear after playing on a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaking to media members ahead of practice on Thursday, Mahomes was asked whether he took any steps backward after playing through the injury. His response should have Chiefs fans thrilled.

“I dont think so,” Mahomes said. “I was just generally sore from the game. It was a physical game. I mean, my whole body was a little sore. So, I don’t think I had any steps backward or anything like that. No like reaggravation of the ankle. Just the general little bit of pain I had playing with it, but other than that, I feel like I’m in a good spot.”

Nothing more than general soreness reported by the star quarterback is good news. Even better news — Mahomes was listed as a full participant in the team’s 10-10-10 practice on Thursday.

He clearly did a good job of protecting himself, even in one of the most critical moments of the game. Mahomes says that when Bengals OLB Joseph Ossai hit him late and out of bounds, he didn’t even try to stop himself because of the risk of injury to himself and others.

“The most pain I had was stopping,” Mahomes said. “So, once he pushed me, it would have been hard to put my foot in the ground and try to stop. I rolled through it. You get over there with the heaters and benches and people, that’s a lot of times where people get hurt. That’s why I think there’s the reason there’s a flag for it. Once I got pushed I just tried to roll and not hurt people and not hurt myself.”

With Mahomes managing to keep the ankle injury on the right track, he should be able to make even more strides toward being 100% for Super Bowl LVII.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes felt first practice went better than expected

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes spoke to media members on Thursday, explaining that his first practice session of the week went better than he expected.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes provided reporters with an update on his ankle injury during his press conference on Thursday.

The latest comes a day following Mahomes completing a walkthrough followed by a full practice session on Wednesday, plus another walkthrough on Thursday morning. On Wednesday, he was excited at the opportunity to test out his ankle. Speaking to the media, Mahomes said he felt things went better than expected during his initial practice session.

“Yeah, I thought I had a good day yesterday,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, there were things you’ve got to work through here and there, but overall, it was probably better than I expected, being able to go out there and throw the football around and get the reps in that I needed to get in.”

Speaking on his mobility and ability to throw on the run, Mahomes said he feels like he can still do plenty, but some of that might be determined at the moment during the game on Sunday.

“Obviously, I feel like I can still do a lot of things,” Mahomes said. “But we’ll see as we get closer and closer and we’ll see during the game. I mean, you can’t fully do exactly what (situation) you’re going to be in, in those moments during the game. All I can do is prepare myself in the best way possible and when we get in the game, you hope adrenaline kind of takes over and you can get in those throws when you need to.”

As far as what Mahomes was able to accomplish in practice, he said he tried to treat everything like a normal Wednesday. He’s expecting another test and challenge in practice on Thursday, but ultimately he knows that he can’t prepare himself 100% for the things that he might face during the game.

“You try to go as far as you can and do exactly what you’d do on a normal Wednesday practice,” Mahomes said. “Luckily, Wednesday isn’t the hardest practice of the week so you get through the motions and you kind of do some stuff and move here and there. Today will be another test, a little bit of a harder practice, a little bit more speed. But like I said, you’re not going to be able to prepare yourself 100% for the game, but you can do the best you can to put yourself in those positions and hopefully, by the end of the week you’re in a better spot to go out there and do what you need to do to win.”

Mahomes had some very high praise for the Chiefs’ training staff and weight staff, along with his personal trainer Bobby Stroupe, when it comes to the preventative work they do to limit severe injuries.

Mahomes says that they’ve helped to prepare his body in the best way possible to bounce back in this particular moment.

“Yeah, I’ve got a lot of good people around me everywhere,” Mahomes said. “You can talk about the training staff here, you talk about the weight staff here and then you talk about (personal trainer) Bobby (Stroupe). I mean, we do a lot of things, kind of preventative stuff. You can’t prevent all injuries, but you can prepare your body the best way possible, so that whenever stuff like this last game happens you’re able to bounce back quickly. We’ve done a lot of ankle and knee and foot stuff, especially after my last few injuries I’ve had. And I think that has prepared me to bounce back quickly here and be able to be in a good spot so that hopefully I’m able to go out there and give 100% during the game.”

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes excited to test his ankle at practice on Wednesday

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes spoke to reporters about his ankle injury ahead of practice on Wednesday.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is hoping to have a better idea of where he’s at in his recovery from a high ankle sprain on Wednesday.

Andy Reid confirmed that Mahomes would practice, potentially in full capacity to start off the practice week. It was certainly a surprise, given how bad the injury looked when it occurred during the AFC divisional round tilt with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

When Mahomes addressed reporters on Wednesday, it was the first time since his postgame press conference on Saturday. He provided everyone with an update on his ankle.

“It’s doing good,” Mahomes said. “A few days of treatment, a few days of rehab. Excited to get on the practice field and kind of test it out and see where I’m at. But it’s feeling good so far.”

He took reporters through the moments following the game and what the rest of his week looked like in terms of testing, rehab and recovery work.

“Yeah, I was able to do some extra testing just to make sure everything was good the night after the game,” Mahomes said. “And then get a few things done to help the treatment kind of start off. The next few days have kind of been an all-day thing where you’re either doing treatment or rehab or watching film. I had to take Brittany (Mahomes) a few places with me, so I could be around the kids a little bit, but it’s a full-day thing where you’re trying to make sure you’re obviously prepared for the Bengals and a good football team mentally and physically.”

This isn’t the first injury that Mahomes has dealt with to his lower body in the NFL. Asked how this compares to the other injuries, Mahomes first described the toughest injury he faced — his turf toe injury during the 2020 playoffs.

“Probably my toe would be the toughest injury,” Mahomes said. “I remember when I had my toe, I had to curl my toes when I walked. So that was probably the toughest injury I’ve had to play through. But I’ve dealt with a lot of them and you kind of just have to get yourself to focus on what needs to be focused on and that’s the team that you’re playing. You prepare your body all week and when you get to Sunday you focus on playing the football game. That’s what I’m going to try to do this week.”

As for how this ankle sprain compares to the one he suffered against the Jaguars in Week 1 of the 2019 season, Mahomes says it’s a similar injury, but it will present a different challenge.

“Yeah, it’s very similar, just a different ankle,” Mahomes said. “Especially, different ankles at the quarterback position, you’re playing off of and throwing off different stuff. So the last one was the leg that I landed on, so I had to find ways to throw where I could land and keep it in the right spot. This time I’ll have to find ways to push off and still make throws the right way. Definitely similar in a sense, but different limitations that I’ll have to work through.”

What exactly his limitations might be in the AFC Championship Game against the Bengals remain to be seen. Right now, Mahomes says he’ll continue to push himself to be at his best for Sunday.

“I think we’ll see throughout the week,” Mahomes said. “I haven’t got to go out in practice yet and put myself in those positions. I’ve done limited stuff in kind of a small box of what I could do. But I’ll push it today and then the next day and then the next day again to see what I can do — to not reaggravate the injury obviously — but to push it to see what I’ll be able to do on Sunday.”

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