The Rotoworld clip appears to be taken from these statements by Marinelli at yesterday's press conference and a couple of reports based on these comments in today's Detroit media:
http://www.detroitlions.com/document_displ...ument_id=464065
>> On how they will manage RB Kevin Jones with two close games coming up
“Well, he hasn’t practiced a lot and that’s always hard. That’s difficult, because you can’t get on the field and practice a lot. He has to do it with walkthrough’s and at the end of the week we’re able to get him going on Friday’s a little bit more, but it’s hard. It’s just not an easy task, but we knew that when he was coming back. We need to get him going in assignments and technique and all those things and sometimes you have to do it without pads, but hopefully we’ll get him going. It is a challenge now; we know we have two games in however many days it is – it’s tough.”
>> On how Jones feels today
“They felt it’s kind of like how he has been. There is some soreness in there, but I think he got sore late in the game.”
>> On whether Jones’ lack of practice plays a part in his struggles on field
“I just think for a good football player, (he has) to practice. You’ve known me from day one; get in pads and practice; there is skill development for any position. If you’re not doing it, to me it’s really very difficult to play at a high level all the time. He’s a heck of a player and we need to do what we need to do in terms of getting him ready. It’s more difficult.”
>> On if there is any concern that this is the first game Jones has felt soreness during the game and not the day after
“There is no structural damage. You hope he would feel great after every one, but he is not.”
>> On if he will chose either the Giants or Packers game to play Jones instead of both
“If you have one of the two? We will kind of see how he works out during this week. He is tough.”
>> On how Jones feels today
“It’s been kind of as usual, as the doctors say; no worse, it’s just sore.”
Based on those statements, the beat writers for the Detroit Free Press and Mlive.com speculated today on how the Lions would handle Jones in the Giants and Packers games.
From
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2007/...nt_be_easy.html
Jones banged up: Running back Kevin Jones suffered a slight left foot injury the same foot that was surgically repaired last December when he was tackled by a horse collar during the game. Jones didn't show any lingering affects from that tackle on Monday, but it does raise an interesting issue.
Because Jones has needed four or five days to recover after playing on Sundays because of soreness in his foot, it appears he might not be available when the Lions play the Packers just four days after playing the Giants.
If that's the case, it's possible the Lions will use T.J. Duckett more against the Giants and save Jones for the Packers game. Not only will that give Jones more time to get ready, but it gives him time to prepare for Detroit's following game against the Vikings in Minnesota. In that scenario, Jones would be healthy and available for both crucial NFC North battles.
Then again, with so much on the line in the Giants game (see above), the Lions might decide to ride the rapids with Jones as long as possible.
From
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../711130353/1048
It might be tough sledding in the future, too. Jones suffered a serious left foot injury last season and has managed soreness since coming back. He left Sunday's game twice because of soreness.
Marinelli said Jones was sore Monday but no more than usual. The question is how he might react to playing two games in five days. The Lions host the Giants on Sunday, then the Packers on Thanksgiving.
Will the Lions consider playing Jones in one game or the other -- perhaps resting him against the Giants so he can be fully ready for the Packers, the NFC North leaders?
"We'll see how he kind of works out during this week," Marinelli said.
Plus the fact that Jones only had 4 carries seems compelling evidence of something different - that is, if you haven't already decided to go with the pre-packaged narrative that Martz is an idiot. One thing I've learned over the years watching pro sports is that when you see something strange like this, there's usually some compelling reason for it that has to do with injuries, etc. that we don't know about.
I am not too worried as no one seems to have any more information on him. If it were a major injury or re-aggravation there would be more news coming out.
