Latest news with #ACLrecovery
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nazeeh Johnson happy to be focused on defense rather than recovery
In the early days of the Kansas City Chiefs' 2023 training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, second-year cornerback Nazeeh Johnson — who had been limited to special teams during his rookie season — was turning heads and drawing rave reviews for his work on defense. Unfortunately, the former Marshall defender suffered a torn ACL during an indoor camp practice, ending his second campaign before it started. While he returned to play in 16 games (including six starts) in 2024, he seemed to be a shell of his former self as he adjusted to playing on a surgically repaired knee. Now, however, Johnson is back to 100%. 'I feel completely different,' he declared, shortly after finishing Wednesday's practice in the building where his 2022 season ended. 'I feel like how I did entering Year 2. I don't even think about my knee. Last year I was dealing with my knee swelling here and there; it just lingered on during the season. But now, it's healthy. I feel normal. I actually feel better than I did prior to my injury.' But Johnson's recovery from a major injury wasn't his only learning experience of the season. During his days with the Thundering Herd, Johnson had played safety. But in 2024, the Chiefs moved him outside to cornerback. He now understands that last year, he was still learning the nuances of the position. 'Personally,' Johnson explained, 'I feel like last year was just a baseline. Granted, it was my first year ever playing corner in the NFL — or even in the game. Then, coming off the ACL as well, there was a lot of stuff going on. [So] I like to look at it as a baseline. I can only get better from there.' Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and his position coaches offered Johnson some encouragement after his first season back. 'They just challenged me,' Johnson recalled. 'They were like, 'We need that dog back. Stop worrying about messing up. Be bold, and be great.' So I just took that in the offseason and just challenged myself. Why not me?' With a strong group competing to fill Kansas City's secondary, Johnson knows that versatility will play a major role in his playing time — because in team meetings, Spagnuolo has focused on having cornerbacks who can line up at multiple positions. 'He's going to interchange us depending on personnel packages and stuff like that,' said Johnson, 'so all of us [need to know] the different roles — from nickel to left [and] right corner. Everything changes, but Spags is a mastermind at that; it's hard for teams to really get a gauge on who is going to be playing where.' As Johnson prepares for his fourth season, he and his fellow corners have had the unenviable responsibility of covering Kansas City's wide receivers, who seem to be making big plays in every video clip coming out of St. Joseph. He'll be happy to pass the responsibility of covering speedsters like Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown — and camp darling Tyquan Thornton — to opposing teams. 'They're fast,' he confirmed. 'Every time you see somebody going deep, we're always in somewhat [of] a trail position because they're just so fast to get off the line. [There's] one thing about our receivers: they catch those deep balls down the field. They're going to give a lot of people headaches, because they've just got speed all over the place. [There's] Worthy [and] Hollywood. And then you've got Thornton, who's going crazy right now. It's just speed, so I say, 'Everybody just warm up your hammies,' because it's crazy.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will Hernandez signs with Cardinals
Veteran guard Will Hernandez is headed back to Arizona. The Cardinals announced that they have signed Hernandez on Thursday. Hernandez spent the last three seasons with the team. Hernandez tore his ACL during the 2024 season and recently announced that he's been fully cleared to return to action. He will still start his time at Cardinals camp on the team's physically unable to perform list. Isaiah Brown closed out last season as the right guard for the Cardinals and has been working with the first team this summer as well. Evan Brown is the team's incumbent left guard. Cornerback Keni-H Lovely was waived to make room for Hernandez on the roster.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Arizona Cardinals re-sign Will Hernandez as he prepares to make NFL comeback from torn ACL month out from new season
The Cardinals are bringing back offensive lineman Will Hernandez as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL. Hernandez suffered the injury in Week 5 of last season while playing for Arizona, as he went on to miss the rest of the season and see his two-year deal with the team run out. However, he announced on his Instagram on Thursday that he's returning to the team. In a side-by-side photo of him and quarterback Kyler Murray, Hernandez simultaneously wished the passer a happy 28th birthday and announced he was returning to the team. '@k1 let's run it back?.' he wrote. 'Just missing the bow but I'm here! Happy birthday mijo! Let's get it this season.' According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Hernandez is signing a one-year deal. He reportedly impressed the team in a visit this week as he continues to rehabilitate his knee. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Will Hernandez (@willhernandez71)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals free agent OL Will Hernandez fully cleared after ACL surgery
The Arizona Cardinals seem to have a spot on their roster still available for offensive lineman Will Hernandez, who after three years as their starting right is an unsigned free agent. If they have been waiting for him to be healthy, that time has arrived. Hernandez, who suffered a torn ACL last ywear in Week 5, announced via his Instagram account that he has been fullu medically cleared for football. Football got taken away from me 9 months ago, it was the hardest thing that's ever happened to me . This has been my entire life. Many said that was it for me. I've always been that player to talk up a big game and motivate the guys around me but for once it was my turn to practice what I preached! IM HUNGRY being away from the game so long made me fall in love with it again ! But this time I'm not just coming back for my self but for all my people 🇲🇽 ima lead by example and show yall que SI SE PUEDE! Especially for all the LIL MIJOS that have dreams too watching me .Whatever yall going through rn use me as proof that with hard work you can make anything happen ! The Cardinals have had second-year guard Isaiah Adams playing right guard with the starting offense this offseason, but the possibility of Hernandez' return has not been ruled out. After all, the Cardinals did not reassign No. 76, the number he wore for three seasons. And that is somewhat significant because rookie offensive lineman Hayden Conner, their sixth-round pick this year, wore No. 76 all through college at Texas. A year ago, after they released tackle D.J. Humphries, his No. 74 was given to Adams. Now healthy, Hernandez will have suitors. The Cardinals seem happy with Adams, but Hernandez had been their best lineman over the three seasons here. This will be something to watch, either for the Cardinals or for Hernandez landing with another team. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Former Cardinals OL Will Hernandez makes big announcement
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron Brink set to make return for Sparks on Tuesday vs. Aces, more than a year after tearing ACL
Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink is coming back. Over a year after an ACL tear ended her rookie season, Brink plans to return to the court on Tuesday, as the Sparks take on the Las Vegas Aces at home. Brink told reporters on Saturday that she was medically cleared, but was ramping up a bit before playing. The center was originally questionable for Saturday's game against the New York Liberty, and traveled with the team to New York before being eventually ruled out. On Monday, Brink spoke to John W. Davis of the Long Beach Press-Telegram during practice. When asked if she was planning on playing on Tuesday, Brink said that she was. "It means the world," Brink said. "I'm just very excited, very humbled by this experience. It's no easy thing to come back from." Brink was carried off the court during a loss to the Connecticut Sun on June 18, 2024. The team confirmed the next day that Brink had torn her ACL. "You never think it will happen to you," Brink wrote on Instagram after the injury was announced. "And despite all the hard work sometimes it does. This is hard to fathom, but I know it will only make me stronger." Now, Brink is launching her comeback arc, though she understands that it won't come all at once. Brink told Davis that she tends to lean on her defense, and said that she expects that to be stronger as she returns to full strength. "Just giving myself patience on offense, knowing that it'll come eventually. Both will need some work, for sure," she said. Even as she still builds back to her peak, Brink's defensive prowess will be a major boost for the Sparks, who currently sit in 10th place with a 11-14 record. Although L.A.'s offense has been much better this year — the Sparks currently average the third-highest points per game in the league — they have struggled on rebounds (third worst in the WNBA) and turnovers (second most). With that said, the Sparks are on a hot streak as of late: L.A. has won five straight games, including a thrilling walkoff win over the Liberty on Saturday.
