BOURBONNAIS — Defensive end Akiem Hicks says he’s a big fan of quarterback Jay Cutler.
“Jay’s fun,” the 26-year-old Hicks said of the 33-year-old quarterback. “I’ve been watching Jay, I want to say since high school. I’ve always been a fan of his style of play and who he is. It’s a lot of fun to pick at him in practice.”
When the 6-foot-5, 336-pound Hicks sacked Cutler on Friday, the big defensive end said teammates told him Cutler responded by saying, “Do that in pads.”
Saturday was the first practice in full pads.
“I got him in pads,” Hicks said, “and he didn’t say much.”
Upon further review:
The offensive play of the day was a diving “catch” in the end zone by wide receiver Kieren Duncan, the fastest player on the roster. Surrounded by defensive backs Sherrick McManis, Deiondre Hall and Taveze Calhoun, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Duncan laid out on the goal line for a deep ball from quarterback Connor Shaw. It appeared to all observers, including fans in the end zone, to be a catch. But an official working the practice ruled it an incomplete pass, soliciting boos from what was by far the largest crowd of camp.
Duncan, an undrafted rookie out of Colorado State-Pueblo who runs a 4.32 40-yard dash, said it was a catch.
More practice highlights:
It didn’t take long for the first practice in full pads to produce the first skirmish, as guard Ted Larsen messed it up with outside linebacker Lamarr Houston, a frequent training camp scrapper.
Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan produced a flurry of big plays in 11-on-11, including a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Injury update:
Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long did not practice, but he was a sideline observer and walked without a limp or the walking boot for the first time since he strained his left calf near the end of Thursday’s workout.
“I would say it’s positive on Kyle,” G.M. Ryan Pace said. “You know how he is, you’ve got to hold him back a little bit.”
Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee remains on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, but is making progress.
“(He’s) just working with the trainers, all the stuff inside, pool work and all those things,” Pace said. “He’s working really hard.”
First-round linebacker Leonard Floyd (ill) returned to practice for the first time since tapping out Thursday and was limited, as was offensive lineman Nick Becton (ill). Nose tackle Terry Williams (shoulder) and cornerback Brandon Boykin (pectoral) were also limited. Tight end Khari Lee (shoulder) did not practice. Rookie linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski left with a hamstring injury.
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