:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/37438058/20140801_pjc_sz2_287.JPG.0.jpg)
The Falcons got some great news from the likes of Steven Jackson and Gabe Carimi today, but Jon Asamoah did not practice. Thankfully, Jay Adams has informed me it doesn't appear to be anything major.
UPDATE: Asamoah was held out for noble enough reasons, according to the team. Nothing major, we hope.
Jon Asamoah was held out of practice for "precautionary reasons" today, according to Coach Smith.
— Atlanta_Falcons (@Atlanta_Falcons) August 25, 2014
@TheFalcoholic Asamoah was at practice, walking fine. Just wasn't participating. Very, very little cause for concern.
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) August 25, 2014
RB Steven Jackson has returned to practice today. #ATLvsJAX
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) August 25, 2014
No word on Asamoah's injury. Will try to find out after practice. #ATLvsJAX
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) August 25, 2014
Gabe Carimi and Mickey Shuler are back at practice too. Southward and Asamoah didn't look like they'd be practicing. #ATLvsTEN
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) August 25, 2014
The Asamoah news has to command our attention, but thanks to that quick clarification from Adams, we can rest a little easier. We'll wait for an official update on what he's dealing with, but apparently it seems—and hopefully is—relatively minor. Vaughn McClure notes that he was limping, so it's a question of what the injury is and how much he's limping. Again, clarification after practice should help.
Steven Jackson back with helmet at practice. Carimi and Shuler back with helmets . Jon Asamoah sitting out and limping. Southward out.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) August 25, 2014
Steven Jackson returning now puts him on track to be in the game September 7th, which is good news for those worried about the team's short-yardage struggles. What we don't know is whether he'll be ready for a full workload in that game, but the Falcons have suggested all along they anticipated he'd be back in action against the Saints.
Carimi returns to try to wrest the starting right tackle gig away from Lamar Holmes, but he'll need an impressive showing during practice this week and certainly during the game against Jacksonville Thursday night to have a real shot. Otherwise, he'll be a backup at guard and tackle, likely the top choice to replace Holmes if he goes down.
Shuler is competing for a roster spot and is coming back with enough time to try to push Bear Pascoe out of the backup job behind Levine Toilolo. Dezmen Southward is still fighting through what looked to be a concussion, and there's no current estimate for when he'll return to practice, much less game action.
Thoughts?