NFL monitoring Jahvid Best's return from concussions

Posted by Josh Alper on August 2, 2012, 2:45 PM EDT

AP

Lions running back Jahvid Best said over the weekend that he isn’t worried about concussions ending his career.

There seem to be plenty of people worrying about that for him. Best has seen or spoken to many doctors since the concussion that ended his 2011 season and he continues to consult with them while waiting for the green light to resume his NFL career.

Commissioner Roger Goodell was at Lions camp on Thursday and said that the league is monitoring Best’s condition “very closely,” although he said that the league isn’t making any push to influence the date Best is cleared to return to football.

Fights break out at Patriots practice

Posted by Michael David Smith on August 2, 2012, 9:05 AM EDT

AP

Bill Belichick generally keeps things orderly and businesslike at Patriots training camp, but when the Patriots practiced under the lights at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday night, several players lost their cool.

It started when offensive tackle Nate Soldertook what several people on the scene have described as a cheap shot at linebackerBrandon Spikes during 11-on-11 drills. That started a fight that got multiple players from the offense and the defense going at it. Solder was required to run a penalty lap, and Spikes went into the locker room and came back wearing a knee brace and jawing at Solder, although Spikes was apparently not seriously hurt.

Jamaal Charles healthy and confident

Posted by Evan Silva on August 2, 2012, 8:31 AM EDT

Getty Images

A year after emerging as arguably the most explosive runner in the game, Chiefs tailbackJamaal Charles missed all but two contests in 2011 with a torn ACL. Based on the history of running backs coming off torn knee ligaments and reconstructive surgery, it’s fair to wonder what Charles might have left for 2012.

He’s optimistic.

“I feel good,” Charles told reporters on Wednesday, per the Kansas City Star. “I feel like I got my mojo back. I feel happy. I feel comfortable out there, and I’m ready to go. My legs feel fresh.” Charles added that he’s able to make cuts like normal on zone plays in the Chiefs’ revised running scheme.

Peyton Hillis, signed this offseason to become the thunder to Charles’ lightning, recently told Jim Trotter of SI.com that Charles still has what it takes to be a special NFL runner.

“When I look at Jamaal Charles, I see so much potential,” Hillis told Trotter. “I see him as one of the best backs in the league. I look up to him. He’s a great player.”

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Giants hold out hope for Terrell Thomas' injury

Posted by Evan Silva on August 2, 2012, 7:25 AM EDT

AP

The outlook for Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas seemed grim when he re-injured the right ACL that cost him all of the 2011 season during Monday’s training camp practice. Multiple reports suggested Thomas was likely destined for year-ending injured reserve.

But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Giants are optimistic that Thomas still stands a chance to play football this season.

A source familiar with the situation told Schefter late Tuesday that doctors who’ve examined Thomas’ right knee “do not believe he has a torn ACL,” and are optimistic that he will play in 2012. Thomas will visit Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Florida on Tuesday to confirm the severity of his injury. But for now it seems the Giants may have caught a huge break.

Steelers not rushing Mendenhall back

Posted by Josh Alper on August 2, 2012, 7:34 AM EDT

Getty Images

The good news is that Steelers running backRashard Mendenhall says he’s right on schedule in his return from a torn ACL.

The bad news is that Mendenhall has no idea when that schedule might call for him to return to work.  “No, none at all,” was Mendenhall’s response to the Associated Press when they asked when he would be getting back onto the field.

It has been seven months since Mendenhall suffered the injury and there doesn’t appear to be a return to the field in his immediate future. He hasn’t been testing the knee on the field yet and the team is in no rush to get him going. Some of that is practical, since the Steelers can’t put him on the PUP list to start the season if he’s practicing with the team at training camp, and some of it is precautionary.

The Steelers don’t want Mendenhall to re-injure his knee, a real worry for a running back who will have to cut hard and cut often once he’s back at work. That means taking things slowly and it seems likely that Mendenhall will miss some of the regular season in order to get back as much as possible before returning to game action.

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Injuries continue to mount on Eagles D-line

Posted by Mike Florio on August 2, 2012, 12:10 AM EDT

AP

Already dealing with injuries to defensive endJason Babin (calf) and defensive end Trent Cole (shoulder), the Eagles have suffered another injury to a key defensive lineman.

Tackle Cullen Jenkins took a cart ride Wednesday with a hamstring injury.  He was scheduled to have an MRI on Wednesday night.

Other injured defensive linemen include rookie end Vinny Curry (ankle) and defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who has yet to be cleared after brain surgery.

Nick Fairley court date pushed to November

Posted by Evan Silva on August 2, 2012, 7:09 AM EDT

AP

The Birmingham News reported Tuesday that Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley’s hearing for a marijuana possession charge has been delayed until November 27. This court date stems from Fairley’s April 3 arrest in Mobile, Alabama.

Fairley was also arrested for DUI and attempting to elude police on May 27. He’s already pleaded not guilty to those charges and has a trial date scheduled for August 14.

Fairley, who considers himself “a great guy … simple as that,” may stand an outside chance of avoiding league discipline to open the season following the delay of his marijuana case. If commissioner Roger Goodell is waiting for a conviction.

Goodell can also hand down suspensions without convictions, though, so Fairley is hardly in the clear just yet.

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Thursday morning one-liners

Posted by Darin Gantt on August 2, 2012, 6:54 AM EDT

AP

Out of the game now, former Bills GM Bill Polian is still a Buffalo guy at heart.

The Dolphins have competition at both safety spots, but Chris Clemons sees himself as the starter.

Rookie DE Chandler Jones has impressed in Patriots camp.

Jets SS LaRon Landry thinks he and Yeremiah Bell can stop Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez (which makes exactly one of him).

Ed Reed focused on football, not contract

Posted by Darin Gantt on August 2, 2012, 6:27 AM EDT

AP

Check your calendar, or maybe your watch.

Ravens safety Ed Reed said he’s focused on football now, and isn’t worrying much about a new contract, although he was careful to point out they’ve already been talking about one.

Trying to follow the direction of Reed’s future this summer could have given you whiplash. He contemplated retirement. He skipped a mandatory minicamp. He sent signals he might hold out, and then he didn’t.

Meachem gives Chargers a scare Wednesday

Posted by Evan Silva on August 2, 2012, 12:26 AM EDT

AP

Michael Gehlken of the Union-Tribune San Diego reports that Chargers receiver Robert Meachem suffered a possible injury in Wednesday night’s training camp practice. Per Gehlken, the injury was to Meachem’s right leg, and possibly his right knee.

Meachem has had right knee problems since his rookie year in New Orleans. He had the same knee scoped this past offseason.

Gehlken reports Meachem was able to walk off the field on his own power Wednesday night, which is a good sign. Coach Norv Turner stated in a post-practice presser that he doesn’t believeMeachem’s injury was anything serious, allowing that he still needs to speak to the Chargers’ head athletic trainer.

At this point, the injury sounds like no more than a tweak.

The Chargers signed Meachem to a four-year, $25.9 million contract in March.

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