Chip Carter's Newsroom

Chris Simms says don't make a big deal out of it, Jon Gruden tells me he is surprised how much coverage a sore elbow is getting.  Both of them tell me there is no truth to the report that Simms is suffering nerve damage, stemming from his spleen surgery.  A published report had Simms possibly going on injured reserve to start the season because spleen surgery stretched the nerves which was effecting his ability to throw.  Simms today denied that, telling me that he feels rusty and he is taking anti-inflamatories for his sore elbow but that is the extent of the damage.  I have included the transcript of my interview with Chris from practice today below.

Chip:  Is there nerve damage you are trying to recover from after the surgery? 
 Simms:  I don’t think it’s anything like that. I think more or less that I’m not quite where I need to be, and I’ve told you guys that. Right now, I’m trying to work to get back to the point where I was last year before the injury and I’m just not quite there yet.

Chip:  Are you missing a sixth sense? Can you feel where your arm is going? Do you know what you’re doing when you’re throwing? 
Simms:  Well I don’t quite feel like myself. I don’t know how to quite say it. It’s hard for me to tell you guys. The only thing I can say to you is I’m going to continue to work and I’m not quite where I need to be, but I think you guys know me and you’ve seen me on the field working after practice, and things like that, and I’m just going to continue to do that and do it until I feel like I’m ready to go at 100 percent?

Chip: : Is there any chance you can start the season on injured reserve? 
Simms:  I don’t think so. I would hope not, but those are questions you have to ask coach [Jon Gruden] or Bruce [Allen]. I don’t have an answer to that.

Chip: So you don't feel that badly? 
Simms: : I don’t feel that badly. I feel physically that I can take a hit and run. I guess you can say I’m rusty. I don’t feel like I’m clicking on all cylinders. I think that’s the best way to put it.

  Simms did not get a lot of work in practice, the third straight day he hasn't been involved really in practice.  But Gruden says Simms will be back in the rotation tomorrow.  Gruden says this is the same thing he has gone through with Brad Johnson and Brian Griese, quarterbacks get sore arms and elbows in practice.