Boardregeln » Manuel also missed the final two preseason

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Titans quarterback Jake Locker has been in and out of the lineup with injuries costing him 10 of Tennessees last 14 quarters, including two of the last three games. Hes back practicing and hopes his sore right thumb allows him to start Sunday in Washington.He said Wednesday its not ideal.You got to make the best of the situations that youre put in, Locker said.Locker was limited Wednesday officially, though he said he was able to do everything coaches and trainers wanted him to, from throwing during individual drills to working in team drills. He spent last week trying to get the swelling down and now is working to get the strength fully back.Time is starting to run out for Locker, the fourth-year pro with only 10 games remaining on his contract. Locker was playing well before hurting his thumb in the second quarter of a 29-28 loss Oct. 5 to Cleveland, throwing for a touchdown and running for another. But Locker has missed 16 of a possible 38 starts.This season, Locker missed a loss at Indianapolis with an injured right wrist, so backup Charlie Whitehurst has started two of the past three games. Locker said the quarterback shuffle in and out of the lineup is not ideal for an offence.Thats why you hope to have a guy thats going to be in there for 16 games of the season, Locker said. Its just kind of the situation were in right now.The Titans (2-4) visit Washington (1-5) on Sunday. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said its too early to say if Locker will start Sunday barring any setback.It really depends on how he responds after today, Whisenhunt said.Washington coach Jay Gruden is going through a similar situation with his quarterbacks. Robert Griffin III was limited Wednesday with the ankle he hurt Sept. 14. The Redskins have lost four straight with Kirk Cousins starting.Gruden, who was in Cincinnati when the Bengals thought about drafting Locker in 2011 before taking Andy Dalton, said Wednesday on a conference call with Tennessee reporters that injuries are an issue with both Locker and Griffin. He called it an unfortunate situation with both tough quarterbacks.You wouldnt think that theyd be injury-prone, but both of them have unfortunately sustained them, Gruden said. Thats an issue. Youve got to be able to stay healthy at that position at all costs. Hopefully moving forward for Robert and Jake, theyre going to get healthy and stay healthy for a long time.Coaches can teach quarterbacks how to slide and protect themselves as much as possible. But Gruden noted Griffin wasnt touched when he got hurt and that Locker banged his thumb on a helmet.You cant over-coach the fact that, Hey, dont get hurt, Gruden said. Thats football. People are going to get hurt every game. Its just a matter of when you have the opportunity to get down and get out of harms way, youve got to do that.Notes: Titans DT Jurrell Casey was named the AFC defensive player of the week Wednesday for the first time in his career after having two sacks and a tackle for loss. Hes the first tackle from this franchise to earn the honour since Ray Childress in 1993. ... CB Coty Sensabaugh (right knee) and S George Wilson (calf) were limited. RB Shonn Greene (hamstring), DE Ropati Pitoitua (finger) and TE Taylor Thompson (right knee) did not practice. Casey was given the day off.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Penguins Jerseys 2019 . Omar Rahou made the discriminatory gesture several times while celebrating scoring a goal against Romania at Antwerp in January, UEFA said. The sanction was double the five-match ban Nicolas Anelka received from an English Football Association independent tribunal last week for the same act. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/. -- Caris LeVert had 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and No. Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop . -- Miguel Angel Jimenez quickly shifted his focus back to the Ryder Cup after winning his first Champions Tour event. Wholesale Penguins Jerseys .com) - Longtime Senators star Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa on Thursday to officially announce his retirement.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills monthlong shuffle at quarterback is coming to an end after rookie starter EJ Manuel returned to practice Wednesday. Manuels presence on the field, and the expectation that hell be ready to step in immediately and start against the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) on Sunday, has provided the Bills a much-needed lift. "Yeah, were excited to get EJ back," centre Eric Wood said. "Hopefully, it gives us a boost, offensively." And dont underestimate the importance of Manuel re-establishing stability at a position that was mostly unsettled in the four weeks since the first-round draft pick out of Florida State sprained his right knee. "Hes the guy that we wanted to be back there, and weve got him back there now," running back Fred Jackson said. "To get some stability there, a guy thats going to be there for the remainder of the season hopefully is something that can help this offence move in the right direction." The Bills (3-6) were going nowhere in losing three of four without Manuel, who was hurt in a 37-24 loss at Cleveland on Oct. 3. The injury prompted a scramble by the team to find a capable replacement at a position where Buffalo lacked experienced depth. Journeyman Thad Lewis was promoted from the practice squad to take over as interim starter after undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel struggled filling in for Manuel against the Browns. Lewis went 1-2 before he was sidelined by bruised ribs, which led to Tuel making his first career start in a 23-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. Tuels inexperience was once again evident against the Chiefs. He threw two interceptions, the second one returned 100 yards for a touchdown in a game where Buffalo squandered a 10-3 halftime lead and outgained Kansas City 470-210. Manuel was cleared to play earlier this week after spending most of last week working out individually. On Wednesday, Manuel showed no signs of a limp while dropping back to pass, and he completed several throws into gusty winds during a 20-minute portion of practice open to the media.dddddddddddd "Yeah, very confident. Pushing off it fine. Running around and making plays," Manuel said. "Its still up to coach as far as what we want to do as a team, but I definitely feel confident going into Sunday." Coach Doug Marrone liked what he saw, and acknowledged that Manuel is expected to start barring any setbacks. "From a standpoint of being healthy, hes fine," Marrone said. "Now its just to the point of really trying to get him back." Plan B would be starting Lewis, who also returned to practice Wednesday. Manuel might not have all that much more experience than Lewis or Tuel. But he has had the most time in learning Marrones offence, and showed a capability of running it in going 2-2 before he was hurt. In four-plus games, Manuel went 85 of 150 for 985 yards passing with five touchdowns with three interceptions and a lost fumble. Lewis and Tuel combined to produce similar numbers in going 88 of 162 for 961 yards and four touchdowns. They struggled in protecting the ball by committing eight giveaways: five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns; and three lost fumbles. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Manuel has a strong arm and provides an element of mobility to the Bills up-tempo attack. The only issue with him is avoiding hits, as happened against Cleveland when he elected to keep running rather than get out of bounds before being struck in the right knee by safety Tashaun Gipson. Manuel also missed the final two preseason games with a left knee injury. Manuel is defensive when it comes to answering questions about his running style. He went so far as to describe his latest injury as "a freak accident." "If I lifted my knee up a half-inch more it wouldnt have been a problem," he said. Manuel added it hasnt been yet determined whether hell play with a protective brace. ' ' '