Running back Da’Rel Scott returned to practice after sitting with a sore ankle for a few days, but linebacker Keith Rivers missed his second consecutive practice. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (foot), defensive tackle Chris Canty (knee), linebacker Clint Sintim (knee) and tight end Travis Beckum (knee) — all of whom are on PUP — did not practice.
After battling knee and hip issues for several years, defensive end Osi Umenyiora feels as good as he’s felt since 2006.
“These last couple of years I’ve been playing with little nagging things here and there,” he said Monday. “But now for the first time in a while I feel relatively healthy and I hope I’m able to maintain that throughout the year.”
When asked the last time he truly felt healthy, Umenyiora’s best guess was 2006.
“Because ’06 was when I had the little hip issue and since then it’s been one thing or another,” he said. “So it’s been maybe about six years.”
Keep in mind, Umenyiora was coming off knee surgery last year and still had nine sacks in nine regular season games.
The linebackers who practiced on Monday performed extremely well. Second-year WLB Jacquian Williams tossed rookie tackle Matt McCants into a ball carrier, MLB Mark Herzlich continued to show impressive speed and strength while undrafted rookie Jake Muasau knocked a ball lose during 7-on-7 drills.
Weakside linebacker Spencer Paysinger stepped up to play with the first team in Rivers and Boley’s absence and also seemed to move well. Middle linebacker Chase Blackburn and strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka continued to practice with the first team.
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