Panthers’ Cockrell sustains fractures to left tibia, fibula
Carolina Panthers cornerback Ross Cockrell sustained a broken left tibia and fibula during practice, and the injury will require surgery, the team said.
Cockrell was hurt when he collided with wide receiver Torrey Smith in the end zone while trying to break up a pass. The team has not said whether Cockrell is expected to miss the season.
Cockrell, 26, signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with Carolina as a free agent this offseason and was expected to compete for a starting spot opposite James Bradberry. since missed three straight practices, and more are to come. Gruden said it would be a “fair assessment” to forecast the 2017 first-round choice to miss a couple OF weeks, perhaps jeopardizing Conley’s ability to practice before camp closes Aug. 16.
Conley missed all of camp with a shin injury in 2017. It required surgery, forcing him to play just two games.
“He comes out to start training camp; he’s in superb shape,” Gruden said. “He makes a great play and he gets a setback. Hopefully he comes back sooner than later. ‘Disappointed’ is the big word, I think. His heart is broken. He’s put a lot into this, and he knows he has to stay healthy and get out there for us because we need him.”
Daryl Worley continues to see firstteam work in Conley’s place.
Close to returns?
Since the first padded practice Sunday, the Raiders’ defensive tackles have seemed overmatched in pass- rush drills against the interior offensive line.
But important reinforcements look near.
Eddie Vanderdoes, a 2017 thirdround pick, and P.J. Hall, a rookie second-round choice, began camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Gruden indicated they soon could make their camp debuts. Vanderdoes is rehabbing a Dec. 31 ACL tear. Hall has a pectoral strain.
All Raiders players are off Tuesday.
Notable
Gruden indicated that running back Jalen Richard’s calf strain from Sunday is minor.
Undrafted rookie Eddy Pineiro continues to impress. On Monday, he made four of six field-goal attempts on the team’s skinny posts.
Contact reporter Michael
Gehlken at mgehlken@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.