Ben Johnson tried to calm the worry around two injuries that could have complicated training camp, saying Braxton Jones and Montez Sweat are probably not dealing with anything serious after both were hurt on Thursday. Neither player was on the field for Saturday’s practice, but Johnson said he expects both back sooner rather than later.
That matters most for Jones, who entered camp fighting for a starting job for the second year in a row. Every day he misses takes away another chance to show he belongs at left tackle, and it opens the door for Jedrick Wills and Kiran Amegadjie to get more work while he is sidelined.
Johnson gave the update Saturday morning on the Hoge & Jahns podcast with Adam Hoge and Adam Jahns, describing the injuries as the kind that could keep the players out day to day or week to week rather than for an extended stretch. He did not identify the specific injuries, but his tone suggested the staff is not preparing for a long absence.
Even so, the absences were real on the field Saturday, and that is where the concern starts to grow. Montez Sweat’s starting defensive end spot is secure, which makes his missed practice more of a short-term camp setback than a roster issue, while Jones cannot afford to lose much time in a competition that depends on repeated reps. Luther Burden and Cam Lewis also left Saturday’s practice early, adding to a camp that is already seeing injuries pile up.
The next few practices will tell the story. If Jones and Sweat return quickly, Johnson’s comments will look like the cautious update they were meant to be. If they stay out much longer, the lost work will matter most for Jones, who needs every snap he can get before the job settles.
