Tuesday, September 21, 1999Blake hoping to play against Carolina Sunday
Quarterback Jeff Blake is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Carolina with a mild sprain of his throwing shoulder suffered Sunday.
But Blake was in better shape than expected Monday.
“I've got full range of motion, and I can put my arm all the way back,” Blake said after one of his several treatments of ice and electrical stimulus. “We're going to see how I feel after 24 to 48 hours. I'm hoping by Friday I'll be able to throw the ball down the field.”
The Bengals held off on making a run at free-agent Eric Kresser until this morning, when they plan to check on Blake's condition. He took a five-pound weight into Monday's meetings to build his rotator cuff but was told not to raise it over his head.
Blake's injury is serious enough that coach Bruce Coslet plans to give backup quarterback Akili Smith the bulk of the practice snaps Wednesday.
“If I did anything Wednesday, it would be light,” Blake said. “But that's OK, as long as I'm doing my film study. I can still go through my progressions and throw it five or six yards to the (running) back. After Wednesday's practice, I can take a cortisone shot and then probably take one right before the game on Sunday.”
It may take more to convince the training staff to let him play.
“It takes treatment and time,” said Bengals trainer Paul Sparling. “He's not ready to pick up a football and fling it.”
— Geoff Hobson
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