Cam Jordan sat down with his former New Orleans Saints teammate Tyrann Mathieu, and the one of the first things Jordan said should give fans cautious optimism for his Week 1 availability versus the Detroit Lions.
“I’m feeling better. I’m moving better. I’m in a lot better place than I was a month ago.” Five days before the season opener, this is everything fans hoped to hear.
This is the best update we’ve received on Jordan’s health since he suffered a hamstring injury in training camp. It doesn’t remove all doubt, but the fact he’s feeling and moving better is a good sign. At the worst, it suggests Jordan should be back soon.
Saints may have to protect Cam Jordan from Cam Jordan
Jordan is aware that him feeling better isn’t enough to guarantee he’ll play on Sunday. When asked if we’ll see him against the Lions, he could confirm that he’ll be there but the playing part is uncertain. And honestly, that may not even be up to him.
Jordan is going to want to play, and he’ll fight through injury to have a chance to do it. It’s an admirable trait and is the reason he’s only missed two games in his career. It’s also the reason the Saints may need to protect him from himself.
Hamstrings are tricky injuries and have a pesky tendency to come back around. Everyone wants Jordan on the field because it's going to maximize the Saints pass rush and run stopping ability on the front line. However, the same reason to want him on the field is the reason the Saints may keep him on the sidelines for the opener.
It's best to be cautious, keep him off the field, then Jordan never leaves afterwards, rather than he comes back because the hamstring is good enough to play and risk another injury. No one wants to hear that, Jordan included probably, but there is value in being extremely careful.
It's also a matter of ramping him up. The Saints won't want Jordan to be cleared then hop directly in game action. They'll want to build him up to it, and that build up could also be a reason to keep him out of the game.
Brandon Staley has already praised how Jordan was playing pre-injury. There's no reason to risk him returning at anything under that level by rushing him back.
We will get a much better idea of Jordan's status for Week 1 when injury reports come rolling in on Wednesday and Thursday. Kellen Moore already said that's when he'll have an update. Jordan's comments are more of a self reflection.
That'll hold us over until the injury reports come out. If Jordan is a full participant in practice, then the mystery is solved. Until then, we'll just have to wait patiently for a clearer picture about the edge defender's availability
Add us as a preferred source on Google