Training Camp Notes: Nelson No Healthy Scratch

Written by

Clay Link

Published on August 12, 2014

A pin was surgically implanted in Marvin Jones' foot over the weekend to stabilize a fractured fifth metatarsal, and the 24-year-old is expected to miss several weeks as a result of the injury. The Bengals are reportedly targeting Oct. 5 against New England for Jones to make his 2014 debut, following their Week 4 bye, so it's possible he ends up missing just three games. In his absence, Mohamed Sanu will serve as the No. 2 wideout opposite A.J. Green, leaving Brandon Tate, Ryan Whalen and Dane Sanzenbacher to compete for looks out of the slot. Jones was going to be hard-pressed to match his fantasy output from a year ago anyway, with Hue Jackson relying heavily on the running game and timing routes to drive the offense, but by no means should he be written off because of this.
It was believed that Jordy Nelson was simply a healthy scratch from the Packers' first preseason game Saturday, but it became clear Monday that he was not. Coach Mike McCarthy revealed that Nelson did not take part in the team's closed practice Friday leading up to the exhibition due to a hamstring injury, though he did go on to say he thinks it's just a day-to-day situation. Nelson, meanwhile, said when asked about the injury, "I told you I was fine two years ago," making reference to the hamstring issue that cost him four games in 2012. Perhaps he was just being tongue in cheek, but it's still not what you want to hear at this point, so the situation is one to monitor closely in the coming days.
Drew Brees sat out practice all of last week and again Monday with what has been diagnosed as an oblique strain. Normally, in baseball, a player with an oblique strain would be forced onto the 15-day disabled list, but coach Sean Payton reiterated his stance that Brees is merely day-to-day. It seems like a foregone conclusion at this point that Brees will not play in Friday's preseason game against Tennessee, but the missed reps shouldn't be too detrimental to the 13-year veteran. Teammate Pierre Thomas returned to practice after missing the team's first exhibition with an undisclosed injury.
Now close to 10 months removed from foot surgery, Julio Jones has been cleared to increase his workload in training camp while continuing on a day-on, day-off practice schedule. The Falcons have nothing to gain by rushing Jones at this point, and they may very well be inclined to hold him out of preseason action entirely, but it appears as though the 25-year-old is on track to play in Week 1. When healthy, Jones has as much fantasy upside as any receiver in the game.
When the New York Giants took the field for Monday's practice, wide receiver Victor Cruz was not present, but the team later clarified that it was just a day of maintenance for the 27-year-old's knee. He had the knee scoped last December. Rookie Odell Beckham Jr. made his return to practice after injuring his hamstring in the very first training camp workout of the summer. Officially a limited participant, Beckham showed off his speed with a one-handed grab along the sideline.
Josh Gordon wanted to practice Monday despite a minor abdominal injury, but the Browns took precaution and held him out. A decision regarding Gordon's appeal of his season-long suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy still has not been handed down, but it sounds like a ruling could be announced by the end of the week. Tight end Jordan Cameron returned to practice Monday after missing more than a week with an AC sprain in his shoulder, and he appears to stand a fairly good chance of playing in the team's next preseason game against the Redskins. Cameron finished along behind Jimmy Graham last season among tight ends in receiving with 917 yards.
A hip flexor injury kept Toby Gerhart from the Jaguars' first preseason game, but coach Gus Bradley said he could return to practice Tuesday. Jacksonville plays again Thursday night, and while Gerhart has not been formally ruled out of that contest, it wouldn't be a surprise at all if he didn't suit up. Jordan Todman got the start in Gerhart's absence last Friday and ran for five yards on five carries.