Texans get good news on Duane Brown's injury

Posted by Josh Alper on August 1, 2012, 5:47 PM EDT

AP

When Texans left tackle Duane Brown had to go for a tests after hurting his ankle during Wednesday’s practice, coach Gary Kubiak said that the team was holding its collective breath about the results.

The collective exhalation is free to begin at any time.

Brown tweeted his followers on Wednesday afternoon with good news.

Duane Brown

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@DuaneBrown76

#TexansNation I'm good!!!! Thanks for the thoughts and concerns!

1 Aug 12

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The x-rays revealed nothing worse than a bone bruise for the 2011 second team All-Pro, a diagnosis that Kubiak said was “lucky” for the team. Brown said that he’s relieved and expects to miss a couple of days of practice while the injury gets better.

Between Brown and Andre Johnson, the Texans have had their fair share of scares already in training camp. The news has wound up being good in both cases, but you wouldn’t blame them from looking up now and then to make sure an anvil isn’t hanging overhead.

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Ben Roethlisberger still dealing with "little torn rotator cuff"

Posted by Josh Alper on August 1, 2012, 4:21 PM EDT

AP

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s ankle injury was common knowledge at the end of last season, but his shoulder never showed up on any injury reports.

It probably should have since Roethlisberger told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he’s been dealing with a tear in his right rotator cuff since last November. Roethlisberger downplayed the seriousness of the injury when asked about how his arm is feeling after a few days of training camp.

Adrian Peterson: It will be a mistake to not take him the 1st round of fantasy drafts

Posted by Mike Florio on August 1, 2012, 3:54 PM EDT

AP

As NFL fans finalize their fantasy draft boards, Vikings running back Adrian Petersoncautions against dropping his name from it.

Asked by Paul Allen of KFAN on Wednesday whether it would be a mistake not to take Peterson in round one of a given fantasy draft.

“I would think so,” Peterson said.  ”The way I look at it, to each his own. . . .  This whole offseason, I’ve been hearing that.  ’Adrian, should we take you?  Will you be ready?’  Hey, I’ve got faith that I’m gonna be out there.  Do you have the faith?  That’s how you’re gonna get your reward.”

Packers get Kuhn and Bishop back

Posted by Josh Alper on August 1, 2012, 5:36 PM EDT

AP

The Packers are moving closer to having all of their players on the field.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop and fullbackJohn Kuhn were both on the practice field for the first time since the start of camp on Wednesday. Both players failed physicals at the start of camp, but they have improved enough to get the medical go-ahead to practice. NFL rules force both players to practice in shells for two days before they can put on pads.

Texans fear the worst with Duane Brown's injury

Posted by Josh Alper on August 1, 2012, 2:06 PM EDT

AP

Losing your left tackle can be a good way to send your season in the wrong direction in a hurry, so it’s no surprise that the Texans are a bit concerned about Duane Brown’s injury during Wednesday’s practice.

Brown injured his left ankle during a running play when someone fell on the outside of his leg. Brown was able to walk off the field on his own power, but left the field via cart a short time later to get an MRI. Coach Gary Kubiak said it was a positive that he was able to walk, but that he’s still concerned about Brown’s status.

“He got rolled up, kind of got hit on the outside of his leg,” Kubiak said, via the team’s website. “It’s part of football, unfortunately. We’ll hold our breath. Hopefully, he’s OK.”

Brown is coming off the best season of his career, which saw him allow just 2.5 sacks while making the Associated Press‘ second All-Pro team. That’s not something you want to lose from the lineup while you’re also holding a competition for the right tackle job. Rashad Butler moved from that battle to take reps in place of Brown on Wednesday while Derek Newton held down the right side.

It’s too premature to wonder if that will be a permanent state of affairs for the Texans, obviously, but it’s not too early to say that there are a lot of fingers crossed in Houston.

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No progress between Blackmon and the Jaguars

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 1, 2012, 8:52 AM EDT

Getty Images

The last remaining unsigned draft pick isn’t any closer to getting a deal done.

There’s been no real progress between the Jacksonville Jaguars and wide receiver Justin Blackmon, a league source tells PFT. Blackmon has been and will continue to be absent from training camp until a deal gets done.

It’s not known exactly what the issues are separating the two sides, but it’s safe to say that the team wants protections in case Blackmon’s off-field problems overshadow his on-field talent. There were already whispers that Blackmon was a character risk for the Jaguars even before he was arrested for drunk driving during the offseason.

Eventually, one side is going to have to give to get Blackmon in camp. But at the moment neither side appears to be eager to take a step toward the other. And that means the two players the Jaguars thought would be their biggest offensive playmakers — Blackmon and Maurice Jones-Drew — remain at home while the rest of the team is working.

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Report: Jake Locker the favorite in Tennessee

Posted by Evan Silva on August 1, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT

AP

Incumbent starter Matt Hasselbeck and 2011 first-round pick Jake Locker are rotating first-team quarterback reps evenly at Titans camp. But there are growing indications that the organization is poised to go young. Hasselbeck is entering his age-37 season. Locker was the eighth overall selection in last year’s draft, and flashed explosive playmaking ability off the bench in rookie spot appearances.

NFL Network’s Mike Lombardi stated on Inside Training Camp Live that he’s “learned” Locker is the favorite to start over Hasselbeck. The Titans appear to have decided internally that the power-armed, athletic youngster is ready to start in the NFL after being eased in as a rookie.

Locker, of course, will need to avoid tanking in camp practices and preseason games in order to maintain what is probably still a loose grip on the lead position. But if Locker capitalizes on the promise he displayed as a rookie, Hasselbeck may never play another down as a Titan.

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Report: Gabbert not showing signs of improvement

Posted by Evan Silva on August 1, 2012, 9:24 AM EDT

AP

The Jacksonville Jaguars are reeling, and increasingly injured. And the new head coach has never even met the best player on the team. To be kind, the Jaguars’ season is off to a dysfunctional start.

There is a quick fix for all of this, though, and we’ve alluded to it before. And conveniently, the guy who can do it is already on the roster. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert can elevate the Jaguars’ 2012 performance if he takes a big leap in year two of his NFL career. Gabbert is the key to Jacksonville’s season.

According to ESPN.com AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky, however, Gabbert’s practice-field performance suggests he is not ready for that sophomore leap.

Todd Haley bringing the running game back in Pittsburgh

Posted by Darin Gantt on August 1, 2012, 8:09 AM EDT

AP

Todd Haley grew up working as a water boy at Steelers training camp, looking up to stars such as Joe Greene.

But as different as they are, they share a philosophy on how to improve the Steelers offense, according to Ed Bouchette of thePittsburgh Post-Gazette.

This offseason, the legendary defensive lineman revealed the unhappiness with the way former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians treated the run game.

John Carlson goes down with sprained MCL

Brad Biggs - National Football Post

The Minnesota Vikings mad a move to upgrade their roster at tight end this offseason with a splash signing of John Carlson.

Now, they’ll have to hope he isn’t out long as the veteran suffered a sprained MCL during practice today, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Carlson was on the ground for a while before limping away to the training room.

There is good news.

“You don't have to have any surgery. It heals by itself,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. “It's a little bit more of a pain-tolerance thing and how he feels.”

So, plan on Carlson being back before the season begins. Meanwhile, it creates an opportunity for more work for Kyle Rudolph.

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