Lions WR Nate Burleson not challenging timetable for his return

Allen Park It's not too often Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson will pause and carefully choose his words. Not that he says outlandish things, but his comments rarely come with a filter.

This time was different.

Burleson, who broke his forearm in a one car accident on I 696 on Sept. 24, was back Channing Frye kids Jersey on the practice field with his helmet for the first time Tuesday. He went through all the drills during the portion of practice open to the media.

Clearly, he's champing at the bit to play Sunday against the Bears. It's been his target since the accident. But coach Jim Schwartz and the team's medical staff haven't cleared him to play.

"I'd caution against reading too much into him being out there (at practice Tuesday) and him being back," Schwartz said.

Burleson was careful not to do what Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III did earlier this season and challenge the team's timetable for his return.

"I want to play and that's Gerald Green Red Jersey just me being a competitor," Burleson said. "That doesn't mean my arm is ready to be out there for 60 minutes. What I do know is, I am feeling good, my legs feel great, I feel fast and I'm catching the ball. That's a lot more than I was doing last week."

Burleson is wearing a protective splint made of Kevlar on his left arm. It's the same splint Gerald Green kids Jersey Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski wears.

"You can't really test it out in practice," Burleson said. "I have a pretty strong splint on it, and I can't feel anything when I put it on, as far as impact. I think I am safe. Now it's a matter of making sure the bone is as healed as it can officialbasketballstore.com/gerald-green-jersey get and I have to learn to play with it. I have to learn how to fall on the opposite shoulder and not try to brace myself with my left hand."

Schwartz said he was encouraged by Burleson's progress, but he said it was still too early to know whether he is ready to play in a game.

"We all know how tough www.officialbasketballstore.com/channing-frye-jersey a guy Nate is," Schwartz said. "If it was up to him he wouldn't miss one game. But there is only so much you can do with healing bones. The big thing is, we're going to get him back, but we want to make sure he's back for good. To do that, we have to avoid setbacks."

Burleson has been out since Week 3. Ryan Broyles, who stepped into Burleson's slot receiver role, was lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained against Dallas.

But even when Broyles played, the Lions were using other options. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew's role increased. Running back Reggie Bush lined up in the slot more. Wide receiver Kris Durham's role and production increased.

"We have guys in place to make plays and hold down the fort until I get back," Burleson said. cougar Man killed while trying to pull car from ditch Hospital: Teen who was shot at Colo. school dies AP source: Free agent OF Shin Soo Choo agrees to seven year, $130M deal with Rangers Ice storm expected to slam Metro Detroit this afternoon Red Wings' Stephen Weiss to be out 2 8 weeks Chase restricts cards affected by Target breach