Brandon Jackson Passes His Exit Physical, Eric Steinbach Close to Healthy

by Chris Pokorny on Jan 5, 2012 5:28 PM EST

Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert held their press conference earlier today, as most of you know. Over the next couple of hours, I'll have a few posts that highlight some of the specific issues they talked about. First up: updates on some of the team's injured players.

Running back Brandon Jackson passed his exit physical after being placed on the injured reserve in the preseason with turf toe. That means he will be ready to go for the team's offseason programs, and if the team doesn't re-sign Peyton Hillis, he would become the team's starting running back. Jackson signed a two-year, $4.5 million deal last offseason. I assume Jackson would have been ready to play in final few games of the regular season had he not been placed on the IR.

One person who doesn't sound like they would've been ready is left guard Eric Steinbach, but Heckert said that the veteran lineman was "close to being able to return." Steinbach had surgery on his back before the start of the regular season. He is under contract for the next two years and is scheduled to make about $6 million next season.

Defensive end Marcus Benard is "doing all right," according to Heckert. He is scheduled to be a free agent, and right now I would not expect him to be re-signed. Linebacker Titus Brown had surgery on his knee Wednesday. Lastly, linebacker Scott Fujita's broken hand has not healed completely yet, but it's not something that will affect him long-term.

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Gawd I hope Steiny can play next year. And B-Jax….that’s just icing on our backfield.

DBN, where I will never understand why they fired Mangini. We went 4-12.

by The New Kardiac Kids on Jan 5, 2012 5:54 PM EST reply actions

“Steiny” bores me. Once the OL adjusted by the 2nd half of the year, I couldn’t even tell he was gone. I would cut him and forget it. He wasn’t that good and is not worth the money.

Everybody knows this is a passing offense and that is where improvements need to be made.

by Johnnypronto on Jan 5, 2012 5:59 PM EST reply actions

It might have been a bit better on the right side had we not had to shuffle though.

DBN, where I will never understand why they fired Mangini. We went 4-12.

by The New Kardiac Kids on Jan 5, 2012 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

by HenryDawg on Jan 5, 2012 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

I am now completely convinced either JP has no real knowledge of football or is a Troll.

What does that MEAN - TO PLAY US OUT?!!?!?

by DaveDawg09 on Jan 6, 2012 10:08 AM EST up reply actions

I hear that’s similar to how James Harrison practices his tackling.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Jan 6, 2012 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

Hope Titus Brown bounces back. Really liked his game.

by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 6, 2012 12:20 AM EST reply actions

he would become the team’s starting running back

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"They kept throwing it at me. I don’t know why. They just kept trying, and I just kept knocking it down." -- Joe Haden

by Kimble_79 on Jan 6, 2012 8:51 AM EST reply actions

I’m not a big college football fan and don’t know a lot about the players till just before draft time but, if Steinbach comes back healthy, what are the chances of Pinkston sliding over to RG and Luavao moving out to RT? Luavao is only about an inch shorter and 10lbs. shy of Hicks or Cousins, so I assume his size is adequate. He also played mostly tackle in college, if I’m not mistaken. I can understand not making sweeping changes during the season – but does anybody have any insight as to why this would be a bad idea in the offseason?

What does that MEAN - TO PLAY US OUT?!!?!?

by DaveDawg09 on Jan 6, 2012 12:11 PM EST reply actions

I switch O linemen all the time in Madden and they do just fine. Seriously, though, I have heard that Pinkston has experience at tackle as well but Wikipedia was no help. Between the two of them, we should be able to figure something out.

by Legoman0721 on Jan 6, 2012 11:05 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Both pinkston and lauvao played tackle in college but both were slated to fit better at hairs in the pros. Pinkston is a little heavy footed and lauvao wasn’t big enough. I like how pinkston played af1ter the first few games but lauvao was pretty bad all yr. I would not mind seeing a line of Thomas, steinbach,Mack,pinkston, and a drafted rt(levy adcock or zebrie sanders or mike Adams)

by better_next_yr on Jan 7, 2012 3:13 PM EST reply actions