Rodgers unsure about playing before opener
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to practice Monday after being sidelined due to back tightness.
The soreness led to him missing last Thursday’s pre-season game against the Baltimore Ravens. His status for this Thursday’s game against the Oakland Raiders also is murky despite general manager Brian Gutekunst saying Monday that he would like to see Rodgers play at some point in the pre-season.
“It’s not like it’s a different sport, you know what I mean?” Gutekunst told reporters. “Football’s football. Again, we’d love to have him out there.”
Rodgers said he felt well during Monday’s practice and would play if that is what first-year coach Matt Lafleur decides.
“I do find it interesting that some teams get a pass this time of year,” Rodgers said. “The Rams don’t play (any starters) and not many people talk about that fact. Now, the counter would be, ‘Well, this is a new system.’ I get it, but we’ve spent a number of practices from May and June and training camp in July and now in August running this stuff, running unscripted periods, where he has to call the play in.
“I feel very comfortable in the offence conceptually, philosophically, enunciating the plays, getting us in the right formation, getting the checks within the play easily figured out. I feel very comfortable with it.”
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown showed up to work on Monday as his search for a suitable helmet continues.
Multiple outlets reported that Brown attended team meetings, although a walk-through practice was apparently cancelled.
His attendance came the day after Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said it was time for the Allpro wideout “to be all-in or all-out.”
Brown has participated in only one full-speed practice this pre-season, in part because he was recovering from foot blisters caused by a cryotherapy mishap, and lately because of his helmet issue.
Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the start for the Miami Dolphins this week, but head coach Brian Flores claims that decision isn’t an indication of his plans for Week 1 of the regular season.
Fitzpatrick was deemed to be ahead of Josh Rosen entering the pre-season, but neither quarterback has separated himself through two games.
“I’m going to put the guy who will help us win, who we feel will give us the best chance to win games,” Flores said.
The third pre-season game often is used as a dress rehearsal of sorts, testing starters against starters to prepare for opening weekend of the regular season on Sept. 8.
Fitzpatrick is expected to start on Thursday against the Jacksonville Jaguars and play into the second half before giving way to Rosen, Flores said.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans didn’t practice on Monday due to an apparent leg injury.
The Tampa Bay Times said the two-time Pro Bowl selection grabbed his left leg after catching a deep ball during Sunday’s practice.
Evans played a total of 20 snaps in the Bucs’ first two pre-season contests, but his availability for Friday’s game against the Cleveland Browns is in question.
Evans, who turns 26 on Wednesday, broke the single-season Tampa Bay record with 1,524 receiving yards in 2018.
Sterling Shepard, expected to emerge as the New York Giants’ No. 1 receiver, is back to full practice after breaking his left thumb at the opening of training camp, and all signs point to him being on the field in Week 1. The Giants open the season on Sept. 8 on the road against the Dallas Cowboys.
Over the weekend, Shepard practised without restrictions and didn’t need to wear the yellow, non-contract jersey.
“It’s actually healed up pretty fast and ... I’m feeling good,” Shepard told the New York Post.
Suspended Giants wide receiver Golden Tate is in the concussion protocol.
Tate, who will miss the first four games of the regular season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, was injured during Friday night’s 32-13 pre-season win over Chicago.
The Giants signed the former Pro Bowl selection to a four-year, $37.5 million deal in March.