Training Camp Notes: Three RBs Suffer Leg Injuries
Published on July 25, 2014
- Vick Ballard was supposed to serve as the backup plan for the Indianapolis running game this year in the event that Trent Richardson faceplants for the second year straight, or Ahmad Bradshaw sustains an injury as he so often does. That plan is no longer an option, as Ballard suffered a torn left Achilles' tendon Friday, less than a year after tearing the ACL in his right knee. That leaves just Richardson and Bradshaw as veteran running options for the Colts. Neither is inspiring, and both are relatively brittle. The Colts otherwise have just the unheralded duo of Dan Herron and Zurlon Tipton fighting for carries, as RB-WR tweener Chris Rainey is a mere gadget player.
- Kendall Hunter left Friday's practice with a leg injury of an unspecified sort, and while no diagnosis or prognosis has surfaced, ESPN's Ed Werder reports that a source close to the team said that Hunter's injury did not look good. If Hunter were to miss any time, it would significantly heighten the chances for rookie second-round pick Carlos Hyde to make an immediate impact.
- Fred Jackson was the third big name running back to leave practice Friday with a leg injury. Jackson's exact status was unknown as of late Friday evening, but it was reported that the injury appeared to be toward the lower part of his leg. If Jackson misses time, it would increase the rate at which trade acquisition Bryce Brown gets acclimated to the offense.
- Andre Johnson made waves in the offseason by skipping Houston's minicamp and OTAs, hoping to to give the Texans reason to trade him to another team before the season's start. Johnson's demand seemed reasonable -- there's no good reason for one of the league's best receivers to waste his final seasons on a team featuring just Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage at quarterback. By Friday, however, Johnson had evidently given up hope of finding greener pastures, reporting to Houston's training camp in order to prepare for a season of chasing down Fitzpatrick's passes.
- Cordarrelle Patterson sat out practice Friday with a foot injury. The ailment isn't believed to be serious, but foot injuries are always frightening, and it would be reassuring to see the raw second-year wideout consuming all the reps he can handle as he tries to master the nuances of Norv Turner's offense.
- Sam Bradford was "full-go" for the start of St. Louis' training camp, giving reason to hope for a smooth transition back into live action after suffering a torn ACL in October. Bradford's general fantasy outlook probably isn't better or worse than it was a year ago -- he remains an only modestly efficient passer, and he has only an average group of pass catchers to throw to -- but at least he's working his way toward establishing a decent floor as Week 1 approaches.
- Marcus Lattimore (knee/hamstring) was unable to practice Friday. Considering it's been nearly two years since he suffered the devastating knee injury that ended his career at South Carolina, Lattimore's continued durability issues are disheartening. Hopefully he finally gets some decent luck with his health and is able to capitalize on his athletic gifts, but he's far behind rookie second-round pick Carlos Hyde as far as fantasy considerations go.
- Carl Nicks has decided to hang up his cleats -- for now at least -- and the Buccaneers cut him Friday in order to rid themselves of his contract. Complications from a MRSA infection caused what was evidently permanent damage to Nicks' foot, and it appears that the once dominant guard won't play again anytime soon. He wasn't necessarily expected to contribute this year to the Buccaneers, but his departure ensures that Tampa Bay will have work to do on its interior line.
