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MIKEROEMER—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Few receivers are as important to their teams as Nelson is to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay. Nelson injured his le knee in a preseason game against the Steelers on Sunday. ByBarryWilner The Associated Press Thegamesdon'tcount.That makes the pain from major pre- season injuries even more, well, painful. Yet NFL teams go through weeks of training camp in the intense heat of summer, then play four exhibition matches — five if you are chosen for the Hall of Fame game. Despite new rules resulting from the 2011 labor agreement that cur- tail the number and intensity of practices, key players such as Pack- ers star receiver Jordy Nelson don't make it to the real season. It's a delicate balancing act for ev- eryone: players, coaches, trainers, even owners. Is it too much? "I don't know if it changes the mindset," says Falcons coach Dan Quinn, whose team hasn't lost any significant performers for the sea- son. Yet. "That's always at the forefront of our thinking. You know in this pro- fession, it's part of the game, but it still (stinks). It's a bummer for (Nel- son) and his team." More than a bummer, it could be a season changer. Few receivers are as important to their teams as Nel- son is to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay. "It's difficult to lose a guy like that in a meaningless game," Rodg- ers said. And there are two more "mean- ingless" games ahead for all 32 teams. This week's matchups are the ones when the starters get the most action — and are subject to the most risk. Even that could change; some coaches are considering reducing the time their elite players are used this week. "That's where the challenge is for a coach," says Quinn, in his first sea- son in charge after running Seattle's superb defense. "From how do you get the readiness you need to play at your best to wishing you had done more to get them ready." Or done more to keep them healthy. Look at the Redskins, Giants, Browns and Bills, clubs already rav- aged by injuries. ON FOOTBALL Preseason injuries mount up Red Bluff High School Athletics will have the following schedule for the Week of Aug. 24-29 Home Girls Tennis, 3:30 p.m. Wednes- day vs. Corning Volleyball, 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. West Valley; freshman team at 5 p.m., junior varsity at 5 p.m. Football, 8 p.m. Friday vs. Cen- tral Valley; freshman team at 4 p.m., junior varsity at 6 p.m. Away Cross Country, Saturday, Beat the Heat Meet in Eureka, time to be announced. RED BLUFF HIGH Athletics schedule fo r th e we ek By Josh Dubow The Associated Press NAPA The Oakland Raiders added an impressive group this offseason. They brought in 10 men who combined for 102 years of playing experience with 15 Pro Bowl appearances, five All-Pro se- lections and one Hall of Fame in- duction. That was just on the coaching staff. The Raiders are hoping a staff filled with accomplished former NFL players like head coach Jack Del Rio, coordinators Ken Norton Jr. and Bill Musgrave, and posi- tion coaches like Rod Woodson and Mike Tice can pass along les- sons learned in successful pro ca- reers to a younger group of play- ers still learning what it takes to succeed in the NFL. "When you're a player, there's almost automatically a respect that you have for a person that's been in it, been in that fight, knows what it's all about," safety Charles Woodson said. "So I think the guys are responding to that. These guys, really they do have a wealth of knowledge. I think our teaching level this year has been at an all-time high, as far as guys understanding where they're sup- posed to be each and every play. I think that'll go well for us." In all, 10 members of the Raid- ers coaching staff played in the NFL, including receivers coach Rob Moore, running backs coach Bernie Parmalee, defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson, defen- sive assistant Sam Anno and de- NFL Ra id er s co ac h staff boasts im pr es si ve credentials Angel Pagan is scheduled to return to the Giants this week from the disabled list, which means Gregor Blanco very likely will return to his appointed role as the club's fourth outfielder. GIANTS Blanco to be SF's most indispensable outfielder FULLSTORYONPAGEB2 By Janie Mccauley The Associated Press SANTACLARA Jim Tomsula has said it over and over again: He reserves the right to back off NaVorro Bowman if he senses the star middle linebacker might need a break. On Sunday night, Tomsula fi- nally let Bowman go — for one quick defensive series, at least. Bowman knew he had five plays max. And contrary to how little a player's at-bats a month into the baseball season might show, this small football sample size told plenty. Bowman is back all right. Does he feel ready for the games that count? "If I had played longer," he joked following his three-tackle, three-snap outing. "It was huge. I could feel the meter just rising on those plays." Anybody not in their seat for the early moments of San Fran- cisco's 23-6 whipping of Dallas on Sunday night missed quite a performance by Bowman as he returned to game action for the first time since a devastating left knee injury in the NFC champi- onship game at Seattle in Janu- ary 2014. "I was glad we got that three- and-out, because I could see him, the momentum was go- ing," Tomsula said Monday. "I'd have had to call timeout to get him out of there." Bowman acknowledged he was emotional during warmups at Levi's Stadium seeing the fans, and that helped get him going. "I missed it," he said. "My adrenalin was rushing. It felt good, just to face someone else, just go out there and make some plays." Who could blame him for having some added energy given it took 19 months to get back, far longer than he had hoped. He missed all of last year recov- ering from tears in the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee, and he had surgery to repair the ACL. Bowman can sense that Tom- sula, even if cautious, under- stands his daunting journey back to health. "I wanted to be out there," Bowman said. "We have a long road ahead of us. Just want to be smart about it. I knew I had five plays so I wanted to make the best of it." He will get a new challenge this week in the altitude of Col- orado, something Tomsula be- lieves will be good for his team. NFL BOWMAN'S RETURN HIGHLIGHTS 49ERS' WIN SFlinebackerhadmemorableperformanceinreturnfrominjury JEFF CHIU — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden (20) during the first half of an NFL preseason game in Santa Clara Sunday. The Mercy Warriors football team will open its season at 7p.m. Saturday at Redding Christian in Palo Cedro. The Volleyball team will take on Dunsmuir at home at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, JV at 5:30p.m. MERCY HIGH Warriors take to the field, court this week Ron Washington is back where he got his big league start as a coach, promoted to his old position as third base coach for the Oakland Athletics on Monday, a er Mike Gallego was dismissed. MLB Washington gets old job as A's third base coach Get your puzzles fix with the NEA Crossword, 7Little Words and Celebrity Cipher, start your day off right with your horoscope, and read the latest advice doled out by Amy Dickinson. YOUR DAILY BREAK Fun and games inside today PAGE B3 BOWMAN PAGE 2 RAIDERS PAGE 2 WILNER PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, August 25, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1