Neither TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe nor WR Josh Imatorbhebhe have played this season because of injury. The latter returned to practice a couple weeks ago, while the former has not been a full participant since last December.
I asked Helton about Daniel Imatorbhebhe and spoke with Josh Imatorbhebhe myself today. Here's what we learned:
Helton said there's still no timetable for Daniel’s return from the quad injury that slowed him in 2017 and thus far has claimed his 2018.
"I know he's working as hard as he can to get back and when he feels comfortable with it, he'll be back," Helton said. "Like I've said with any injury, there's medical clearance and there's people being comfortable. Until there's a comfort level with that player, that's when you go with it. And there's not a comfort level. ...
"He's the first one in every day trying to get it better. I appreciate that. He's working to try to get back for his brothers, and when it's right, it's right."
Josh added of his brother: "To me, it wouldn't make any sense, someone who last year before the season was going to be a Mackey Award winner potentially, why he would willingly sit out? So obviously there's still something going on. People don't understand. He wants to play."
Helton isn't confident Daniel, a redshirt junior, would be granted a medical redshirt waiver because he would have missed just one full season with the injury. He redshirted in 2015 after transferring from Florida. A sixth year is typically granted to players missing two seasons because of injury.
Meanwhile, Josh had another good practice today. He's had a few since returning. He said he is all the way back from the high ankle sprain he suffered in training camp and is eager to see the playing field.
"I'm ready. I feel great," Imatorbhebhe said. "I just feel like there has to be good communication between myself, the medical staff and then the coaches, and once we're on the same page I feel like I'll be out there in no time. ...
"My hopes are high. I know we need some firepower on offense and I feel like I can contribute."
I relayed to him there are rumors of him wanting to transfer.
"I don't know where that came from. I've never told anybody anything," he said. "I'm a one-day-at-a-time guy and I never read the press. I've never talked about that at all. I don't have any intentions of doing that. Just focused on the next day of practice and getting better."
I asked Helton about Daniel Imatorbhebhe and spoke with Josh Imatorbhebhe myself today. Here's what we learned:
Helton said there's still no timetable for Daniel’s return from the quad injury that slowed him in 2017 and thus far has claimed his 2018.
"I know he's working as hard as he can to get back and when he feels comfortable with it, he'll be back," Helton said. "Like I've said with any injury, there's medical clearance and there's people being comfortable. Until there's a comfort level with that player, that's when you go with it. And there's not a comfort level. ...
"He's the first one in every day trying to get it better. I appreciate that. He's working to try to get back for his brothers, and when it's right, it's right."
Josh added of his brother: "To me, it wouldn't make any sense, someone who last year before the season was going to be a Mackey Award winner potentially, why he would willingly sit out? So obviously there's still something going on. People don't understand. He wants to play."
Helton isn't confident Daniel, a redshirt junior, would be granted a medical redshirt waiver because he would have missed just one full season with the injury. He redshirted in 2015 after transferring from Florida. A sixth year is typically granted to players missing two seasons because of injury.
Meanwhile, Josh had another good practice today. He's had a few since returning. He said he is all the way back from the high ankle sprain he suffered in training camp and is eager to see the playing field.
"I'm ready. I feel great," Imatorbhebhe said. "I just feel like there has to be good communication between myself, the medical staff and then the coaches, and once we're on the same page I feel like I'll be out there in no time. ...
"My hopes are high. I know we need some firepower on offense and I feel like I can contribute."
I relayed to him there are rumors of him wanting to transfer.
"I don't know where that came from. I've never told anybody anything," he said. "I'm a one-day-at-a-time guy and I never read the press. I've never talked about that at all. I don't have any intentions of doing that. Just focused on the next day of practice and getting better."
