GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Based on one play in the NFL, Green Bay Packers rookie first-round pick Datone Jones has had very mixed results.
On the positive side, Jones impressed fellow defensive lineman B.J. Raji with his quick pass-rush move. On the negative side, Jones suffered an ankle injury on the play and was forced to make an early exit in his NFL preseason debut.
When coach Mike McCarthy did not provide any further medical updates on Jones 18 hours after the game, some Packers fans worried that it was more serious than initially thought. However, despite Jones not practicing with the team Monday, it doesn't seem to be an injury that will keep him out an extended period of time.
"Datone Jones, he'll miss a couple of days this week," McCarthy said.
Jones was about to blow by Arizona Cardinals rookie left guard Jonathan Cooper, but he was tripped up and hurt on the play.
"We all talked about how great of a move he had on the guy," Raji said. "It was rookie on rookie, first-round pick on first-round pick. Datone, he won that rep and his leg just got caught. The other guy kind of tripped him and kind of got him on his ankle.
"If you're judging Datone off that one play, his future definitely looks bright."
Jones wasn't in the locker room after Friday's game or at the conclusion of Monday's practice, but Raji said that the 26th overall pick was doing well.
"He handled it very maturely," Raji said. "We were all just kind of congratulating him on how good of a move it was, because he completely whiffed the guy and he had a chance to get a sack, but obviously the guy tripped him and he rolled his ankle."
McCarthy does not yet "have a good handle" on whether Jones will be available for Green Bay's next preseason game on Saturday night on the road against the St. Louis Rams.
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