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Two weeks Before Week 1 practice

There is always detective work to be done on a new injury or recovery timetable in mid-August. What's really happening with Andrew Luck's left leg? How concerned should we be about Antonio Brown's feet? Can an accurate timetable be provided on A.J. Green's ankle injury?

But the majority of questions I get this time of the preseason are about veterans who have seemingly minor injuries who aren't practicing. Unlike the regular season, where players have less than a week to recover from minor injuries, teams have much more time to rest players and rehab to near full strength. Most of these situations are day-to-day recoveries that become weeks of missed practice because team medical staffs recognize there is no upside in pushing the limits of recovery to allow a return for camp practices a month before the season begins or to participate in a single series of an early preseason game.

(Unless you're the Giants and are seemingly comfortable clearing a player with a thumb splint to catch meaningless camp passes in traffic.)

That doesn't mean every veteran is healthy, however. It's possible that "muscle tightness" is a mid-grade strain. Thankfully, we're getting closer and closer to when teams have to show their cards on their injured players. At some point, players expected to be on the field for 60+ snaps need to show they're in football condition. They need to return to individual and team drills far enough in advance to pass through the all-important 7-14 day window when they're at highest risk of aggravating a prior injury.

That time is now.

We're less than two weeks from teams deciding on their final 53 player roster. We're two weeks from teams officially installing a game plan for Week 1.

So you'll see most of the veterans return to practice over the next ten days. They may not participate in a preseason game -- the days of using the third preseason game as a full "dress rehearsal" where the starters play the entire first half and the first series of the second half are over. If a player believed to be resting with a minor injury isn't participating in practice by next weekend, it's time to get concerned.

Injury Rounds

Keenan Allen | Ankle injury | Preseason Week 2 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1

At first glance, Allen's injury did not sound any alarms. Adam Schefter reported Allen was likely to miss the team's final three preseason games but was expected back for the Chargers' regular-season opener. Anthony Lynn didn't seem worried about the injury when first questioned, noting Allen was dealing with "soreness" and was cleared to be on the sideline during practice. However, Lynn then told reporters he was "not going to say if he's going to need surgery or not because I think we'll wait and rehab it, then see what happens."

While that sounds ominous, it does not sound like a case where a coach slipped and hinted that there is a worse injury than previously reported. There's no indication of a walking boot for immobilization, no reports of an upcoming specialist visit, and Schefter's specific report of an expected return for Week 1 is reassuring.

Allen's injury warrants close follow up here but it's too soon to read too much into Lynn's statement.

Amari Cooper | Heel contusion | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1

Cooper has missed over two weeks of practice with a heel injury. A report last week described Cooper's injury as a "very small muscle strain of the plantar fascia." Plantar fascia strains and inflammation are painful but are not necessarily long-term injuries. There's no report of a higher-grade tear or rupture. Jerry Jones denied Cooper's injury was a soft tissue strain, saying the condition was more of a contusion. Regardless of the specifics, there are no indications Cooper is at risk of missing Week 1. If he hasn't returned to practice by the end of the week -- or returns and suffers an aggravation -- there will be more reason for concern. Tuesday Update: Cooper confirmed today he's suffering from plantar fasciitis, saying he's dealt with it before and would play through the injury if necessary.

Kenyan Drake | Right foot injury | Preseason Week 2 | week-to-week | Questionable Week 1

Drake left practice early last week with a foot injury and was seen on the sideline in a walking boot. He told local writers his injury was "nothing crazy" but would keep him out for an undetermined period. Head coach Brian Flores called Drake day-to-day but Flores hasn't been forthcoming with injury information on any player this preseason. Count Drake among the many players who will declare themselves fit for Week 1 or questionable in the coming 7-10 days.

DK Metcalf | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Preseason Week 3 | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 1

Late Sunday night, the Seahawks announced Metcalf would have surgery on his knee this week. Pete Carroll told reporters the surgery was "minor" and was optimistic Metcalf could return by opening weekend. That's unlikely. Even a relatively straightforward procedure to remove a meniscus fragment usually requires 3-4 weeks of rehab. There have been players who have had a knee scope as they enter a bye week who recover in time to play in two weeks. But those instances are rare and shouldn't be considered the norm. Week 2 is a more likely target than Week 1.

***Odell Beckham missed multiple practices last week with a hip injury. Beckham says the injury is minor and won't keep him out of any regular-season games. Expect him to return to practice soon.

***Aaron Rodgers was held out of the Packers' second preseason game with ongoing back tightness. We may see him recover in time for the final preseason game. More likely, he'll return to practice but not take any live game reps until the Thursday night opener in Chicago.

***Derwin James has a stress fracture of his fifth metatarsal (foot) bone. He will have surgery this week and the early timetable reports -- 3-4 months -- suggest this is different than the typical fifth metatarsal fixation. Expect the Chargers to put James on injured reserve after setting their final 53 player roster and hoping he'll be ready to return when eligible mid-season. Monday Update: Adam Schefter confirms James' injury was more than a typical fifth metatarsal injury. A screw in James' bone has bent and will need to be replaced. The 3-4 month timetable is a reasonable goal. IR-return remains the most likely outcome at the end of the preseason.

Follow Up Appointments

Andrew Luck | Calf strain | offseason | week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1

I wrote extensively on Luck in a separate feature last week.

The article summarizes everything that was reported about Luck's calf/ankle injury from March through last week and highlights where I believe there remain unanswered questions. Follow the link above to read the full details but here's the executive summary on where I stood last week:

• Andrew Luck has not practiced on consecutive days since late May.
• Despite varied reports and speculation, the Colts are not yet certain about Luck's diagnosis.
• Chris Ballard wouldn't confirm Luck's availability for Week 1.
• It's impossible to project a timetable for Luck's effective return until he returns to practice.
• Consider Luck questionable at best for Week 1 and beyond.

Since publishing that feature, there were two somewhat reassuring developments.

First, Chris Mortensen reported there was "guarded optimism" Luck could be ready for the season opener. Second, Luck was seen observing practice throughout the weekend and was doing pocket drills on the sideline.

Frank Reich has strongly hinted that Luck would not play Week 1 unless he was able to return to practice and prove himself fit to play. Luck's individual work suggests he intends to work toward that goal. The precise nature of Luck's injury is still unknown and there are still rehab hurdles to clear, but the trend through the weekend was much better than early last week.

antonio brown | Foot condition | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1

Brown's feet are healed and he briefly returned to practice last week. However, his preferred helmet repeatedly failed NFL safety tests last week and Brown left Raiders' camp upset and is reportedly again considering options. From a medical standpoint, Brown's feet are a non-issue. I've listed him probable for Week 1 but the helmet saga continues.

***Julio Jones is participating in individual drills and running routes at full speed. He is likely to be cleared for team drills and contact soon but may not participate in the final two preseason games.

***Players returning to practice last week include: Jamaal Williams (hamstring), Marquise Lee (knee), Bobby Wagner (PRP injection for knee inflammation), Cam Robinson (knee)

INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER