FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Dallas Keuchel Jersey . - New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones is inactive for the game against the Chicago Bears.The Patriots leader with 4 1-2 sacks is out for the first time this season after sustaining a hip injury thats expected to sideline him for about a month.New Englands inactive list on Sunday also includes cornerback Alfonzo Dennard and receiver Aaron Dobson, who were not on the injury report. Offensive linemen Bryan Stork and Dan Connolly return after missing the last game with concussions.For the Bears, starting safety Chris Conte is active after a shoulder injury kept him out of the previous game. Linebacker Lance Briggs is out for the third straight game with a rib injury. Their inactive list includes linebacker Jonathan Bostic (back), offensive tackle Jordan Mills (foot) and safety Danny McCray (knee).___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Bob Uecker Jersey . "This isnt really the week you want to lose Chris Greaves," fellow lineman Glenn January said Wednesday after practice. Greaves is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in last weeks 36-28 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. Kyle Wright Jersey . At least 90 players who had college eligibility remaining are expected to enter the draft, shattering last years record number of 73. "Its a humongous number, so the first reaction is it makes you step back a little bit," said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles.TORONTO – Dustin McGowan is determined to get to the bottom of the fatigue which plagues him during his starts. In-between outings, hell become better acquainted with a treadmill. "Actually Im going to start running a lot more, just see if that helps with endurance," McGowan told TSN.ca on Friday afternoon. If only it was that simple. McGowan is a type 1 diabetic. "I think a lot of it, for me, Im starting to figure out its got something to do with my blood sugar," he said. "Its so high." To put it into context, according to the National Institute of Health, the normal blood glucose level for a non-diabetic should be less than 125 milligrams per deciliter. Once McGowan takes the mound, his readings skyrocket to disconcerting levels. "I get so anxious and stressful and nervous leading up to the game," said McGowan. "Before I go out, Ill be fine, itll be 140, 150 and, without drinking anything or eating anything after I come out of the game, its over 300." In the ongoing effort to find a solution, hes going to take in insulin while hes pitching. "I may start wearing my pump during the game just to see if (the blood sugar) levels out a little bit," he said. McGowans injury history is well documented. He was a mainstay in the Blue Jays starting rotation in 2007, winning 12 games in a breakout season, and appeared poised to live up to the promise his status as a top prospect suggested. After remaining healthy through the first half of the 2008 season, he was forced from a July start with shoulder pain. Three weeks later, McGowans season was over when it was announced he would need surgery to repair his labrum. He had knee surgery in 2009 and a second shoulder procedure in 2010, this time to fix a torn rotator cuff. After returning to the rotation in September 2011 and making five starts at the end of the season, he experienced more shoulder problems in 2012, which led to another surgery. McGowan doesnt blame diaabetes for his injuries but he believes the condition has hampered his ability to make hastened returns. Andy Messersmith Jersey. "Recovery has been a pain because even when I get a blister or a cut, it takes forever to heal," said McGowan. "I can only imagine after getting my arm sewn back together what it was like. In that way, its been brutal but I dont think its done anything to cause me to get hurt. Its just the healing process takes a little longer." Finally last season, McGowan rejoined the club in June and settled into a relief role in which he posted a 2.45 ERA in 25 appearances. His return to the rotation this year is a testament to his perseverance but also a reflection of the Blue Jays desperation. There were no other immediate options after Ervin Santana spurned the club for the greener pastures of the National League and a contract with the Atlanta Braves. McGowan would like his blood sugar level to be between 150 and 160 milligrams per deciliter while hes pitching. Hes as concerned with the reading dropping too low as he is with disturbing spikes and so hes okay with a slightly higher count than what a non-diabetic would expect. "When youre doing exercises, its supposed to go down," said McGowan. "I think just because of the stressful situations pitching and stuff like that, it just causes it to boot up a little bit." Manager John Gibbons is openly musing about using a six-man starting rotation with the schedule about to get busier. The Jays have one off-day between the start of the next road trip, Tuesday in Kansas City, and Sunday, June 1. There are only four off-days remaining between now and the All-Star Break in mid-July. After admitting hed wondered to himself if a return to the bullpen makes the most sense, McGowan wants to clarify: he wishes to remain in the starting rotation. "Its something Im not going to shy away from," said McGowan. "Im going to do it until they take it out of my hand." ' ' '
top of page
bottom of page