Physically unable to perform: WR Justin Blackmon (groin).
Non-football injury: S Johnathan Cyprien (left hamstring).
Missed practice: DE Jeremy Mincey (head), RB Justin Forsett (sprained right big toe) and CB Lionel Smith (quad strain).
WR Cecil Shorts (left calf) ended his day before team drills started.
*On one of the few – if only – deep pass attempts of practice, QB Blaine Gabbert’s bomb to WR Tobais Palmer was slightly underthrown, but Palmer made the catch when S Chris Prosinski couldn’t get over in time to break up the play. Palmer waltzed into the end zone.
*CB Alan Ball continued his strong camp by moving across WR Ace Sanders to intercept Gabbert’s pass near the goal-line. Ball tried to run it back but was ruled out of bounds around the 15-yard line.
*Also in goal-line, Gabbert looked for TE Marcedes Lewis in the back right corner of the end zone, but LB Russell Allen was with him step for step to break up the pass after Lewis got a hand on it. Allen landed wrong and had to take a few snaps off.
*WR Toney Clemons finally showed up during team drills, making two fine catches along the sideline that forced him to go into the air with a defender draped over him. The second catch started a two-minute drive run by QB Chad Henne.
*There was a single session of linemen 1-on-1 drills and the highlight was DE Paul Hazel pushing back and then pushing over OT Mark Asper.
*The reserve linebackers, all of whom are first- or second-year players, are still learning the coverage aspect of the new system. And that results in busts and open tight ends at various parts of the field.
*The number of flags bogged down some parts of the 11-on-11 drills. Most of the penalties were at-the-snap calls like illegal formation by the offense or a neutral zone violation by the defense.
ODDS AND ENDS
*Quarterback playing time in 11-on-11: Blaine Gabbert 32, Chad Henne 24, Mike Kafka 10 and Denard Robinson 5.
*Quarterback passing stats in 11-on-11: Gabbert 14-of-22, Henne 12-of-15, Kafka 1-of-3 and Robinson 0-of-0.
*WR Mike Brown and WR Ace Sanders were the receivers to start first-team offense reps because of injuries to Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts.
*The team portion of practice got off to an intense start when after a running play to the left side, TE Marcedes Lewis and DE Jason Babin locked onto each other and needed to be separated. FB Will Ta’ufo’ou was the first peacemaker on the scene.