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Buckle up for today's deeply confusing injury update on Steven Jackson!
As expected, S-Jax returned to practice on Wednesday and looks to be getting closer to playing. I've said since the weekend that I don't expect him back until Week 9, but I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Here's where things get tricky:
Steven Jackson @sj39 plans on playing on Sunday vs. Arizona.
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@AJCFalcons) October 23, 2013
RT @FalconsJAdams: Steven Jackson says he feels well enough to be effective. As far as Sunday, he says "We'll see." #ATLvsAZ
— Atlanta_Falcons (@Atlanta_Falcons) October 23, 2013
Steven Jackson wouldn't officially say he was playing, but walked and talked like a man who is playing Sunday. #jackattack #riseupfox5
— ken rodriguez (@krodfox5) October 23, 2013
Quote I interpret as Jackson saying he will play: "I'm feeling to this point well enough to give it a go & be out there (cont.)..." #Falcons
— John Manasso (@jmanasso) October 23, 2013
Jackson, continued, "... and be effective like Day 1." #Falcons
— John Manasso (@jmanasso) October 23, 2013
So which is it? Is S-Jax ready to roll for Sunday and planning to play, or is he back to practice and taking it slow? Obviously the team is going to look to create as much ambiguity as possible, but Vaughn McClure at ESPN and others aren't reporting with the same thing as DOL. It could just be a matter of interpretation, but either way I'm waiting to declare that S-Jax is going against the Cardinals Sunday afternoon, especially because this story provides a more nuanced, vague take.
Still, it looks likely that Jackson is going to try his damndest to suit up against the Cardinals, so don't bet against him. If doctors are giving him the green light, I'm sure he's going to push hard to play.
The rest of the injury report is a little sunnier, too. Stephen Nicholas isn't going today, and I'm not optimistic about his status for the week. Roddy White wasn't on the field while reporters were out there. Sam Baker is on the field in full pads, though. After Robert Alford coughed up a fumble a week ago, the Falcons may give Robert McClain a chance as punt returner. That's not technically an injury, but pride was hurt.
The full injury report is coming out a bit later, and I'll amend this article once it does. For now, your thoughts?