Full-go at practice for the first time in weeks, rookie Su'a Cravens on Thursday took another step forward as he make a return to action following a concussion.
Wearing, in the words of his teammates, "Harry Potter glasses" when he's not on the field, Washington Redskins rookie safety/linebacker Su'a Cravens is feeling pretty good with where he is in his progress from a concussion suffered on Oct. 2 against the Cleveland Browns.
For the first time since going down with the injury, Cravens on Thursday was a full participant at practice.
"I got a lot of reps today in the nickel period and then I did during the scout period," Cravens said. "I was just trying to get a sweat going. I feel good."
A decision on Cravens' return to game action against the Detroit Lions won't be made until after another doctor's evaluation. He has an appointment on Friday.
"It's just the progression of things and the protocol," Gruden said. "He'll get checked out by the independent guy [on Friday] and hopefully he'll get good news."
In the first four games of the season when he was healthy, Cravens proved to be one of the team's best players even at just 21 years old.
Not only did he collect a game-winning interception off Eli Manning in a Week 3 victory over the New York Giants, the rookie brought energy to the field each time he stepped on it.
Whenever he makes it back into a game setting, Cravens is confident his play won't take a step backward.
"I've been in my playbook, I've been watching film, I've been on my iPad and I've been watching the boys play on TV," Cravens said. "It's just another week and I'm just getting ready to see where I'm at."
With the 53rd pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins selected linebacker Su'a Cravens out of USC. Take a look at his collegiate career in photos.
In his return to practice, Cravens has also continued to take reps at scout team safety as part of his development.
"It's good for him to get back there and see the whole field," Gruden said. "It's good for his eye progression – both at linebacker and safety. It's been good work for him. And since he's been out for a couple weeks, it's good for him to just keep running and keep working."
Being sidelined is never easy, and Cravens is "itching" to get back out there with his teammates. But this injury has taught that you have to have "tough skin" in the NFL.
"It's all brand new to me but I've got great teammates and a great locker room that I kind of feel at home with," Cravens said. "If I'm going through something, an injury or something, I just know I can lean on them to support me."
The USC product has been wearing a tinted visor at practices over the last two weeks and is waiting to get approval from the league to wear it during games.
As for his eyewear, he'll continue to wear glasses whenever he's not practicing or playing.
"Yeah, if Harry Potter wore some Gucci glasses, I'm fine with Harry," Cravens said with a smile.
