Post by specialk1307 on Aug 17, 2006 20:11:28 GMT -4
Jones returns as camp clears out
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter
Published August 16, 2006, 10:59 PM CDT
BOURBONNAIS -- Thomas Jones left the physically unable to perform list and arrived on the practice field Wednesday, catching passes during position work and running half-speed plays with the scout team.
Jones saved his quickest burst for the end of practice, sprinting to a waiting golf cart to get a jump on breaking training camp. The Bears return to Halas Hall in preparation for Friday's home exhibition opener against San Diego.
Caught outside the players' dorm, Jones continued to refuse joining the playing-time debate that his return to practice only heightens. Especially because the condition of his strained right hamstring is ahead of where Cedric Benson is with his injured left shoulder.
"Ask me something else; I'm not talking about that," Jones said. "That's irrelevant. I'm here to play football. I'm not here to talk about controversy. I'm here to do what I'm capable of doing, and that's make plays."
Indeed, it wasn't a stretch for Jones to portray San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson since he rushed for just 127 fewer yards than Tomlinson's 1,462 last season. Jones' competition is now Benson, whether Jones joins the debate or not.
Jones suffered his injury while running sprints as part of his physical on July 27, the first practice day of training camp. That he returned on the last day here framed the battle between him and Benson, who was injured Aug. 4.
Coach Lovie Smith said the plan is to increase Jones' workload next week and that it's possible he would play in the Aug. 25 exhibition against Arizona. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said Jones eventually would supplant Adrian Peterson with the first-team offense.
"If he doesn't have any setbacks, that's the plan as far as I know," Turner said.
Nobody revealed the plan for when Benson and Jones both are healthy.
"If both of those guys are in there, you would have a better evaluation because we would have tried to get both those guys the same amount of reps and same type of plays," running backs coach Tim Spencer said. "But that didn't happen. We're going to evaluate Thomas on Thomas and not anything else. Thomas will be fine for us. When Ced gets back, we'll work them both in there and see how it goes."
With just more than three weeks until the Sept. 10 regular-season opener in Green Bay, Turner said the injuries might force the coaching staff to evaluate Jones and Benson off last season.
"To a certain point," he said. "We know what Thomas can do. We know Thomas is a very good player. We have to get him healthy. We have to get him reps. He has to get back in sync with the offense and the timing with the offensive line and with Rex in the passing game. But we know Thomas is a warrior."
The coaching staff had been encouraged by Benson's development before his injury. It also has insisted the team needs both backs along with Peterson to be successful.
But only one can be the featured back.
Jones fell behind Benson on the depth chart after skipping voluntary off-season workouts. He was encouraged by his return.
"I didn't go 100 percent all out," Jones said. "Obviously, you don't want to go out there and injure it again. I felt good enough to get out there and make some nice cuts and moves."
Jones is known for being one of the most knowledgeable players of the Bears' offense, and he admitted he wouldn't need many reps to feel acclimated again.
"I've been doing this for awhile, so it's pretty second nature," he said. "The trainers did a really good job of keeping me loose and stretched out. They also did a good job of keeping me calm and not letting me rush back. I was pretty much going over the plays, doing mental reps and moving around as much as I could."
Jones also is one of the team's most popular players because of his work ethic and production. So his return didn't go unnoticed.
"It's always a boost," center Olin Kreutz said. "Thomas is a veteran. He's one of our emotional leaders. We're happy to see him back. He's one of the best backs in the NFL."
But is he the best back on the Bears? That answer will come at some point. In the meantime, Jones relished his return.
"It felt good to get out there with those guys," he said. "We have a really close relationship."
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter
Published August 16, 2006, 10:59 PM CDT
BOURBONNAIS -- Thomas Jones left the physically unable to perform list and arrived on the practice field Wednesday, catching passes during position work and running half-speed plays with the scout team.
Jones saved his quickest burst for the end of practice, sprinting to a waiting golf cart to get a jump on breaking training camp. The Bears return to Halas Hall in preparation for Friday's home exhibition opener against San Diego.
Caught outside the players' dorm, Jones continued to refuse joining the playing-time debate that his return to practice only heightens. Especially because the condition of his strained right hamstring is ahead of where Cedric Benson is with his injured left shoulder.
"Ask me something else; I'm not talking about that," Jones said. "That's irrelevant. I'm here to play football. I'm not here to talk about controversy. I'm here to do what I'm capable of doing, and that's make plays."
Indeed, it wasn't a stretch for Jones to portray San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson since he rushed for just 127 fewer yards than Tomlinson's 1,462 last season. Jones' competition is now Benson, whether Jones joins the debate or not.
Jones suffered his injury while running sprints as part of his physical on July 27, the first practice day of training camp. That he returned on the last day here framed the battle between him and Benson, who was injured Aug. 4.
Coach Lovie Smith said the plan is to increase Jones' workload next week and that it's possible he would play in the Aug. 25 exhibition against Arizona. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said Jones eventually would supplant Adrian Peterson with the first-team offense.
"If he doesn't have any setbacks, that's the plan as far as I know," Turner said.
Nobody revealed the plan for when Benson and Jones both are healthy.
"If both of those guys are in there, you would have a better evaluation because we would have tried to get both those guys the same amount of reps and same type of plays," running backs coach Tim Spencer said. "But that didn't happen. We're going to evaluate Thomas on Thomas and not anything else. Thomas will be fine for us. When Ced gets back, we'll work them both in there and see how it goes."
With just more than three weeks until the Sept. 10 regular-season opener in Green Bay, Turner said the injuries might force the coaching staff to evaluate Jones and Benson off last season.
"To a certain point," he said. "We know what Thomas can do. We know Thomas is a very good player. We have to get him healthy. We have to get him reps. He has to get back in sync with the offense and the timing with the offensive line and with Rex in the passing game. But we know Thomas is a warrior."
The coaching staff had been encouraged by Benson's development before his injury. It also has insisted the team needs both backs along with Peterson to be successful.
But only one can be the featured back.
Jones fell behind Benson on the depth chart after skipping voluntary off-season workouts. He was encouraged by his return.
"I didn't go 100 percent all out," Jones said. "Obviously, you don't want to go out there and injure it again. I felt good enough to get out there and make some nice cuts and moves."
Jones is known for being one of the most knowledgeable players of the Bears' offense, and he admitted he wouldn't need many reps to feel acclimated again.
"I've been doing this for awhile, so it's pretty second nature," he said. "The trainers did a really good job of keeping me loose and stretched out. They also did a good job of keeping me calm and not letting me rush back. I was pretty much going over the plays, doing mental reps and moving around as much as I could."
Jones also is one of the team's most popular players because of his work ethic and production. So his return didn't go unnoticed.
"It's always a boost," center Olin Kreutz said. "Thomas is a veteran. He's one of our emotional leaders. We're happy to see him back. He's one of the best backs in the NFL."
But is he the best back on the Bears? That answer will come at some point. In the meantime, Jones relished his return.
"It felt good to get out there with those guys," he said. "We have a really close relationship."