By Bill Coats 11/14/2007 5:33 pm
Remember all the talk last week about easing
Steven Jackson into action after he missed most of the Browns game before the bye after his back stiffened?
“I think that went out the door,” Jackson said with a laugh Wednesday. Jackson had 27 touches – 22 carries and 5 receptions – in the 37-29 victory Sunday at New Orleans.
“I eased him right in, right?” quipped coach Scott Linehan, who then explained: “It wasn’t the same as a normal game like we had last year, where he basically took every play. It works to have a change-up. Brian (Leonard) can play a lot a third-down situations. Antonio (Pittman) did a great job in his first role, to come in and spell (Jackson). That’s what keeps a guy like Steven fresh.”
Jackson, who earlier in the season missed four games with a torn groin muscle, has been diagnosed with a bulging disc in his lower back. Still, he said he couldn’t afford to be cautious on the field.
“It really doesn’t take a big shot; any hit can kind of make it act up,” he said. “So I just put it out of my mind, and if it was going to happen, I was hoping it would happen on a good play.”
***
The only players absent from practice Wednesday were those who are on injured reserve. Asked whether it was the “healthiest” practice in several weeks, Linehan joked, “We didn’t have an O-lineman schedule for surgery today. That was an improvement.”
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If there’s a plus to the litany of injuries that has devastated the offensive line, it’s that the coaches have had a chance to evaluate a number of prospects.
“We’ve looked at a lot of linemen; we’ve scoured the entire league,” Linehan said. “That’s going to be a positive down the road. You have to look at it like, ‘Here’s a young player with a lot of upside. They have the physical potential to be what you’re looking for and are a couple years ahead of being what is a draft pick next year.’ You have to take advantage of the fact that we have spots open on our roster.”
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Notes & quotes:
>>WR
Torry Holt, who is nursing a sore right knee, did little work in practice. That’s been the case on most Wednesdays and will continue throughout the season, Linehan indicated.
>>For now, Nick Leckey remains the starter at RG. Brandon Gorin and Rob Petitti continue to alternate at RT.
>>MLB
Will Witherspoon is the team leader in tackles (83), sacks (3) and forced fumbles (2 – tied with FS Oshiomogho Atogwe and SLB
Brandon Chillar).
>>Todd Johnson has a team-high 12 tackles on special teams. He and Eric Bassey each recorded three vs. the Saints.
All for now. . .
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