Monday (4/15/13) practice report

[PonyPride]

• Backup QB Conner Preston sat out of practice Monday, and his spring is done. Preston will undergo surgery next week on his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

"It’s called ‘thoracic vascular syndrome,’" Preston said. "It’s basically scar tissue that has built up between the collarbone and the upper rib - that little gap is filled with scar tissue.

"I first noticed it in November or so, but I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was a lymph node or something, that I was getting sick. But it didn’t get better. I tried to play through it, and I can throw, but it just makes sense to get it taken care of so I can be ready in August."

Preston said he has been told that it will be about 10 days after surgery before he's "allowed to do anything," and an estimated 12 weeks before he will be fully recovered. He said he will recuperate through the early part of the summer, and expects to be 100 percent healthy when preseason workouts begin.

• Future NFL DE Margus Hunt visited practice.

• Slot WR Deion Sanders continues to dispel the idea that he was recruited solely for his name. For someone whose recruitment was met with questions about his size and speed, he continues to get open, including on deep passes, and continues to make catches. In seven-on-seven drills, he got behind the defense on at least three occasions and made the catch every time. Sanders turned in one of the best catches of the day when he ran a crossing route on a short play in the red zone, shook a defender with a couple of quick fakes and made the reception on a low throw from QB Neal Burcham while diving across the back of the end zone.

• If Sanders' touchdown wasn't the catch of the day, that honor would have to go to WR Darius Joseph, who made a one-handed catch during seven-on-seven drills that was over - almost behind - his head, and he made it look easy ... and got both feet down inbounds.

• RB Jared Williams has been taking on a full workload in the Mustangs' crowded backfield. On one play, that would have gone unnoticed for any other player, Williams caught a quick screen pass and turned upfield and froze a linebacker with a couple of fakes before sprinting upfield. Normally, it wouldn't have been a big deal, and it wasn't the first time he did it, but it showed that he can move laterally and has confidence in the leg he injured in the BBVA Compass Bowl after the 2011 season.

Williams said after practice that he "doesn't even think about (his) leg anymore." He said his quickness and ability to change directions is "about the same" as it was before his injury, and said that his top-end speed is close to what it was, but that he "can still get faster."

He did sprain his right thumb in practice Thursday, but didn't sit out of any drills.

• When the team split into team (11-on-11) drills, the first-team defensive line looked solid, repeatedly getting into the backfield to "sack" the quarterback. DE Zach Wood and NT Darrian Wright looked particularly quick with their acceleration into the backfield.

• WR Arrius Holleman (hamstring) has not returned to practice, but said he has done some light jogging and that the leg is feeling better. He hopes to return to the field this week.

• RB K.C. Nlemchi, who also strained a hamstring last week, said his leg remains sore but he expects to return to practice Tuesday, anyways.

• CB J.R. Richardson, who sat out a day of practice last week because of stiffness in his ankle, took part in all drills Monday. He acknowledged that the ankle remains sore, but he does not expect to miss any more days of practice this spring.

[RGV Pony]

Prestons injury is probably thoracic outlet syndrome, though it can have a vascular component. Not sure about Conner but surgery often involves removal of part of rib that most people don't have (a 'cervical' rib)

[PonyPlayer4]

Prestons injury is probably thoracic outlet syndrome, though it can have a vascular component. Not sure about Conner but surgery often involves removal of part of rib that most people don't have (a 'cervical' rib)

The favorite surgery of the Rangers pitching staff.