I had a strained lower back last week. During practice, I sort of strained my lower back real bad, and it went into my lower butt, and it almost felt like a hamstring pull, and that’s what I thought I did, actually. So I went to the trainer and said I think I got my hamstring. He looked over my hamstring, but in the act of doing so he actually figured it was my lower back area. I guess people saw him working on my hamstring, and they figured I had hurt it, but it was actually my lower back area. Last week when I was hitting stuff, I felt a sharp pain in my butt area and that was keeping me from running. So that was the problem with me, and that’s why I really couldn’t play against Detroit last Saturday.

I didn’t practice at all, but Coach Cowher said he’d try me again when we got to Detroit. I jogged like 100 yards down and jogged back and he told me to go across the field, and he could tell it was getting better, but it wasn’t to the point where I could play. It was very disappointing, but I understand. I know I have to show what I can do, that’s the name of the game now. It’s not baseball, you know. In college, they know you were good, but now you gotta prove yourself in the preseason, and especially for rookies. I don’t have the luxury of being drafted on the first day, being on the second day I pretty much have to go out there every day and prove myself.

I practiced this Tuesday and I felt a little bit better. The beginning of practice was good, then towards the end I could really feel it, so it’s going to take time for it to really go away. But it’s getting better and I’m definitely playing this weekend.

We play Saturday night at 7:30. We play the Houston Texas. I don’t think it’s nationally televised, but I think if you have a satellite or the NFL Network, you may see it a little bit. The only preseason game for us I know that will be nationally televised is next Thursday against Philadelphia.

At first I was very disappointed I was hurt. Things weren’t going as I hoped to be, but I’ve just got to take it as it comes. Everything at first was going good, then I pulled my lower back area, so I really have to prove myself in a game now. I need to go out there and just play, show them what I can do and that I’m learning and show them that I can help them on special teams.

Sitting out helped me to see everything a little better, to see what to do on different plays. Before I hurt myself I was making little mental mistakes, making stupid mistakes really, and then when I started knowing what to do, I pulled my lower back. Now I have to show them that I do know my stuff and that I can play and that I do know my position now a lot better than what I did before. I got a lot of what I call mental reps while I was out, and it helped me. I did a lot of mental reps and I know what to do in different situations now. I’ve been making mistakes here and there, but I know exactly what’s going on now.

I’m doing everything now, I’m not 100% physically, but I’m doing all the drills and stuff like that. They brought in another guy named Adrian Ross as soon as Clark Haggans was hurt, and I’m actually working with the third-teamers now, and he’s with the twos. The ones are Clark Haggans and Joey Porter, twos are Adrian Ross and Alonzo Jackson, and threes are me and Dedrick Roper.

I’m not sure exactly how much I’m playing, and I’m gonna get a lot of snaps on special teams. I think my personal goal is pretty much just to play the best that I can and play as fast as I can, and try to make as many plays as I can.

I’m actually having fun. I’ve learned the position a lot better now, and I have a lot more fun. Its coming around, honestly.