Around the NFL: RGIII to return when he feels ready

By Ryan Gerstel, Eagledelphia contributor

RGIII’s health to dictate return: Cleveland Brown’s quarterback Robert Griffin III wants to return to the field this season, but isn’t looking to expedite it.

“it’s not anything that I’m going to rush back into,” Griffin told reporters Wednesday, via ESPN.

The Browns placed Griffin on the team’s injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury late in the team’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns can designate the 26-year-old to return, but he’ll have to miss a minimum of eight games.

While he wants to return sooner rather than later, Griffin is going to take his time and will only return when his shoulder fully recovers.

“It’s more if the doctors say I’m good and the trainers say I’m good and my body feels good — then that [returning] is the goal,” Griffin said Wednesday. “It’s not something where I’m saying all bets are off, it doesn’t matter what they say, I’m going back out there. I just want to do the right thing and listen to what they have to say.”

In Griffin’s absence, backup quarterback Josh McCown will lead the offense. The 37-year-old played in eight games with the Browns in 2015, completing 186 of 292 passes (63.7%) for 2,109 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.

This most recent injury marks already the third time in Griffin’s five NFL seasons that he’s missed time in the regular season due to injury. 

“It sucks,” Griffin said. “It’s football.”

Giants take shots at CB Norman: New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and corner back Janoris Jenkins took jabs at rival Washington Redskins corner back, Josh Norman, for not covering the Pittsburgh Steelers’ best receiver Monday night.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown torched the Redskins’ secondary, hauling in eight passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers beat the Redskins, 38-16.

Before the season started, Norman publicly stated said in an ESPN article that he is “the best corner back on Earth.”

However, Norman did not cover Brown during the team’s season opener during Monday Night Football.

“Especially if he calls himself — I don’t call him this, he calls himself the best corner in the league — then you have to go cover the best receivers on the other team,” Cruz said Wednesday, via ESPN. “Going in, I thought he was going to follow [Antonio Brown] all over the place, but he didn’t. So it is what it is. He made his choice.”

Norman retorted by saying that he focuses on the assignments given to him by his coaches, calling the discussion about matchups “hogwash.”

“I’m doing what I’m asked to do and doing it to the best of my abilities, trying to be a cerebral assassin on details and assignments, which my coaches ask me to do,” Norman said. “Trying to be a technician of the game. Anything I can do, I’m all for it. Whether I travel or not travel to one side, left side, who really cares? Just get the job done. Whoever gets the job done, so be it.

“All this talk about this guy matchups up this guy, who really frickin’ cares? Come out with a W and win the game. That’s hogwash. That’s what people talk about. Of course we want to go up against each other because our competitive egos are through the roof. It’s one of those things that comes with the territory.”

Cruz believes that if the 28-year-old really wanted to cover Brown, he had the power to do so.

“It’s always his choice. He can go to the powers that be and say, ‘Hey, I want to cover this guy.’ And if they say no, if maybe he did that and they say no, then I’ll have to eat my words,” Cruz said. “But for the most part, you can go make that request.”

Jenkins joined Cruz in the Norman bashing, saying that the $70 contract he signed with Redskins this offseason should dictate who he covers. 

“I think when you’re paying someone $70 million, there shouldn’t be no game plan,” Jenkins said. “The game plan should be, you’re on this guy and that’s what it is.”

Bosa likely out Week 2; Week 3 doubtful: San Diego Chargers first round selection Joey Bosa will likely miss his second-straight game with a lingering hamstring injury, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport.

#Chargers 1st round pick Joey Bosa (hamstring) didn’t practice today. There was a thought his injury could linger… iffy for Sunday.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 14, 2016

Rapoport also reported Thursday on Good Morning Football that the 21-year-old’s status for Week 3 is also in question.

“It does not seem so,” Rapoport said regarding if Bosa would play this week. “He didn’t practice yesterday with a bulky hamstring which he strained after just a couple days of practice. We know he showed up late in (the preseason) after not signing his deal. Was not really a holdout but was just staying away from the team until he signed his contract.

“So he had a nagging hamstring injury. He missed last week. Hasn’t even practiced in full pads yet. That is a major problem. Not gonna play until he practices in full pads maybe once or maybe more. It’s not gonna be Joey Bosa this week — the hope is for Week 3. But even that’s not guaranteed.”

The Chargers, who reach an agreement with the rookie on a four-year deal worth $25.8 including a $17 million signing bonus, drafted Bosa with the hopes that he would be a difference maker for a feeble defense. Unfortunately, they’ll have to wait a little longer to see results.