Bills’ Dane Jackson returns to practice: ‘I can’t do nothing else but smile’
Dane Jackson is back at Buffalo Bills practice. Sounds simple enough.
It is anything but.
Jackson sustained a scary looking neck injury in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. Jackson was carted off the field and taken directly to the hospital after an awkward hit.
Somehow, he walked out only a day later.
As someone who has seen a lot on a football field, Buffalo pass rusher Von Miller felt the same way many did over the past week-plus regarding Jackson. A roller coaster, of sorts.
“It definitely was a serious situation. It’s just the ugly side of our sport, man. It’s just a true blessing that he was able to come out all right,” Miller said via video conference.
Jackson did sit out last week against the Miami Dolphins, but he’s already back practicing in a limited capacity. Really an astonishing thing considering how it looked at first.
Jackson knows that, too.
“It meant a lot to be back out there with the guys, get moving around. It felt like I’d been out for like a month or something. So it felt good being back out there, Jackson said. “It was pretty scary. It was pretty scary, for sure. I wanted to get up, but precautionary things, and you can’t get up. So, it was scary in the hospital not being able to move or anything like that, (and) not knowing.
“Really, the unknown was the most scary part. Once I knew everything was good, then I kind of relaxed.”
Sure, Jackson knows an injury bug has hit his team. He wants to be out there helping like everyone else.
For him, just being able to walk back into the building at One Bills Drive, only days later, is remarkable. He’s not taking it for granted.
“Oh for sure. I mean, I’m here. I’m alive. I’m standing,” Jackson said. “Everybody’s seen the hit. They know it could’ve been a lot worse. Just for me to be here, nothing structural, walking, back in the locker room with my teammates, this is a blessing. I can’t do nothing else but smile.”
Even with Jackson back at practice, his status for Week 4 is still unknown. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said Jackson is “ramping up” in practice this week, so time will tell if he’s back in action on Sunday.
Bills Wire will provide the latest updates leading up to game day.
