Thursday’s NFL training camps had some serious bumps.
Between injuries and sweltering conditions, an unnamed head coach thinks changes need to be made to the summer football schedule.
“I hate the first two weeks of training camp. They need to restructure the offseason,” the head coach said in a text to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
The Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey stole the headlines in the worst way possible at their respective camps, both getting carted off the field with injuries Thursday.
The Bengals’ star quarterback suffered a calf strain while scrambling, and went down grabbing his leg before being escorted off.
Burrow, who led Cincinnati to an AFC North title last season, does not have a timeline for the injury.
“This is football, guys go down with an injury that maybe is a day thing, who knows. We don’t message the team after single person goes down,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said.
“There’s a lot of guys who had soreness today that had reps cut down. That’s just part of football training.”
Ramsey, on the other hand, was quickly ruled out for the foreseeable future with a meniscus injury that will sideline him for at least six to eight weeks, NFL.com reported.
The Dolphins cornerback will undergo surgery on his left knee after he got tangled up with receiver Tyreek Hill during 11-on-11 drills and fell to the ground.
Though it was an unfortunate blow for the Dolphins, who acquired Ramsey from the Rams in the offseason for tight end Hunter Long and a third-round pick, the six-time Pro-Bowler seemed to be in good spirits.
“I’ll be back on that field stronger than ever… in due time!” Ramsey tweeted.
“This SO minor for God’s child! I trust fully & know He got me! Im forever grateful to worship His name! I know my brothers gone hold it down until I’m back tho! “Im forever grateful to worship His name! I know my brothers gone hold it down until I’m back tho! Appreciate the love & support! Time to get right!”
Aside from the injuries, other teams, like the Vikings and Steelers battled through extreme heat as they opened their first days of training camp.
Minnesota tight end T.J. Hockenson said it was “hot as s–t,” as he and his squad got to work in 90-degree conditions on Wednesday.
Rodney Williams, of the Steelers, struggled with heat fatigue as Pittsburgh also hit the 90-degree mark at Thursday’s practice.
“I think Rodney WIlliams at tight end got a little bit fatigued via the heat,” head coach Mike Tomlin after practice.
“We’ll evaluate him and see if we can get him back out here tomorrow.”
