- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Trumaine Johnson edging closer to return
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/12697/trumaine-johnson-edging-closer-to-return
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- As St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson was taken off the field in Cleveland on a cart in the team's third preseason game, many assumed he had torn an ACL and would probably miss the season. Johnson himself feared for the worst.
So when Johnson found out in the days that followed that the direct hit he took to the knee was not a torn ACL but rather a severely sprained MCL, he couldn't help but feel lucky even if it was going to cost him a couple of months.
"I feel like I dodged a bullet," Johnson said. "It could have been my ACL, I could have been out for a year. I’m very blessed it was MCL, I didn’t have to do surgery. MCLs heal on their own."
In Johnson's case, the MCL is healing on its own though it isn't doing it as fast as he'd like. He suffered the injury on Aug. 23. At the time, the Rams projected a time frame of 6-to-8 for a return with some hope that he'd be back soon after the Week 4 bye. That didn't happen as Johnson has missed the two weeks after the bye but he's at least starting to make progress.
Johnson began doing some work on the side last week and was actually listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. Simply being back on the field is a sign of progress for Johnson, who says he's relied on his teammates to keep him from going crazy while he waits for the knee to heal.
"The next step is trying to get better every day," Johnson said. "I’m feeling good. I’ve been on the field more than I’ve been here in the training room so that’s what we’re doing right now."
When Johnson returns, the Rams will have some juggling to do in the secondary. Rookie E.J. Gaines replaced Johnson in the starting lineup and has fared well for the most part though he's had some bumps and bruises along the way. Janoris Jenkins is the other starter and coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday that his faith in Jenkins has not been shaken despite some game breaking mistakes. And rookie nickel corner Lamarcus Joyner is coming off his best game last week against San Francisco.
Still, the Rams cornerbacks have struggled without Johnson and having him back, whenever that happens, should be helpful to the defense at large.
"(The injury was) real difficult timing, especially being the third preseason game, the season right around the corner," Johnson said. "It was a big blow for me but I have been positive about it. I’m so anxious, I can’t wait to get back out there."
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/12697/trumaine-johnson-edging-closer-to-return
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- As St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson was taken off the field in Cleveland on a cart in the team's third preseason game, many assumed he had torn an ACL and would probably miss the season. Johnson himself feared for the worst.
So when Johnson found out in the days that followed that the direct hit he took to the knee was not a torn ACL but rather a severely sprained MCL, he couldn't help but feel lucky even if it was going to cost him a couple of months.
"I feel like I dodged a bullet," Johnson said. "It could have been my ACL, I could have been out for a year. I’m very blessed it was MCL, I didn’t have to do surgery. MCLs heal on their own."
In Johnson's case, the MCL is healing on its own though it isn't doing it as fast as he'd like. He suffered the injury on Aug. 23. At the time, the Rams projected a time frame of 6-to-8 for a return with some hope that he'd be back soon after the Week 4 bye. That didn't happen as Johnson has missed the two weeks after the bye but he's at least starting to make progress.
Johnson began doing some work on the side last week and was actually listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. Simply being back on the field is a sign of progress for Johnson, who says he's relied on his teammates to keep him from going crazy while he waits for the knee to heal.
"The next step is trying to get better every day," Johnson said. "I’m feeling good. I’ve been on the field more than I’ve been here in the training room so that’s what we’re doing right now."
When Johnson returns, the Rams will have some juggling to do in the secondary. Rookie E.J. Gaines replaced Johnson in the starting lineup and has fared well for the most part though he's had some bumps and bruises along the way. Janoris Jenkins is the other starter and coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday that his faith in Jenkins has not been shaken despite some game breaking mistakes. And rookie nickel corner Lamarcus Joyner is coming off his best game last week against San Francisco.
Still, the Rams cornerbacks have struggled without Johnson and having him back, whenever that happens, should be helpful to the defense at large.
"(The injury was) real difficult timing, especially being the third preseason game, the season right around the corner," Johnson said. "It was a big blow for me but I have been positive about it. I’m so anxious, I can’t wait to get back out there."
