team is planning for Zimmers return, barring any setbacks.ddddddddddddSpecial-teams coordinator Mike Priefer filled in for Zimmer on Thursday night, carrying out the plan put together by Zimmer and general

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Ryan Clady knew he was nowhere close to being done with football.Not when he tore the ligament in his left knee for his second major injury in three seasons. Not when he spent the Super Bowl as a spectator, rooting on his Broncos teammates.And, not when Denver brought in a player to replace him, effectively ending his tenure with the team and casting his future in doubt.It was a little bit stressful, Clady acknowledged. I cant deny that.The veteran left tackle, acquired by the New York Jets in a trade from Denver in April, is healthy again.Hes also eager to show everyone that hes still the immensely talented player who has made four Pro Bowls and been considered one of the best at his position.Yeah, no question, Clady said. A lot of this game is about pride and respect. Thats what some guys play for, outside of money and whatnot. Its a great motivator, I feel like. I definitely feel that. Its one of the things thats driving me, to prove those guys in Colorado wrong.They got rid of me. All players, when they get shipped off, they want to show, `Yo, Ive still got it.After being eased in during offseason workouts, Clady has been a full participant in practice throughout training camp. He has been working extra to get in sync with center Nick Mangold and left guard James Carpenter.Ryans a true professional, offensive line coach Steve Marshall said. The guys been in this league a long time, and hes picked right up and melded very well next to Carp and done a great job.Most of all, though, his body is feeling good.Thats something Clady hasnt been able to say much during the past few years while missing 30 of 48 regular-season games since 2013. That year, he missed all but two games because of a Lisfranc foot injury. The Broncos made the Super Bowl that season, when they lost to the Seattle Seahawks -- with Clady on the sideline.He bounced back the following year, playing in every game and making the Pro Bowl. But the injury bug struck again during organized team activities in May 2015, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.And, the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl without him again -- and this time beat Carolina.Its definitely tough and no one wants to be on the sidelines when your guys are out there playing ball, Clady said.But that was just the beginning of what would be a hectic offseason for the lineman, who turns 30 in two weeks.Denver signed left tackle Russell Okung in March, despite Clady telling The Associated Press during the Super Bowl that he was willing to restructure his contract to be a lifetime Bronco. The team and Cladys representatives had met in March to talk about that, but things cooled once Okung was signed.Thats when Clady knew he was on his way out.I hadnt been in that position before, he said, insisting hes not bitter about the divorce. There was the opportunity with the potential to stay, which didnt end up happening. And then there was the opportunity for new beginnings, which I kind of had put in the back of my mind once I tore my ACL.I thought there was a pretty good chance that Im out of there after the season, so it wasnt like it was a complete surprise for me.The Jets reached out to the Broncos when DBrickashaw Ferguson, a durable and popular left tackle, opted to retire after 10 seasons.A day after Ferguson made his decision official, the Jets had his replacement by sending a fifth-round pick to the Broncos.The trade was originally stressful basically because of all the unknowns, Clady said. You dont know the guys and how theyll embrace you and how the knee will hold up and stuff like that. But once I got here, I felt at home.He knew there would be some pressure to try to slide into a spot that had been anchored by Ferguson, a guy who had never missed a game or practice his entire career.Living up to his own reputation, though, was even more important to Clady.I think it was more me feeling good out there and me playing at the level I want to play at, he said. With an injury, you have to get into that mindset, like, `I can still be a good player. I can still do this.So far, so good.While he says his knee isnt 100 percent just yet, Clady has felt pretty good throughout training camp. He dropped a few pounds from his 6-foot-6, 315-pound frame to take some pressure off his knees, and Clady likes how hes moving around.Overall, he said, I think Im right where I need to be.Clady has aspirations of being selected for the Pro Bowl again, this time as a member of the Jets. He hopes hes not playing in it, though. Hes got bigger plans for the perfect capper to his comeback.The main goal is to win ballgames and make it to the Super Bowl, Clady said. I want to be out there, on that field, playing with the fellas in Houston. Thats what I want more than anything.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL T. J. Oshie Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Adidas Capitals Jerseys . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. http://www.cheapcapitalschinajerseys.com/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Braden Holtby Jersey . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Christian Djoos Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. MINNEAPOLIS -- After emergency surgery for a detached retina caused him to miss the first game of his NFL career Thursday night, Mike Zimmers health appears to be turning a corner for the better.Zimmer had another operation on the eye Friday, after a follow-up appointment Friday morning, but it appears he could return to work next week, according to a league source.Zimmer did not coach in the Vikings 17-15 loss against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, one day after he had emergency surgery on his right eye -- his third operation in November on his eye.?His surgery might also prevent him from flying to the Vikings Dec. 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Zimmer had told NBC before Thursdays game that there was a contingency plan in place to drive him to Jacksonville if he wasnt ready to fly.If all goes well following Fridays surgery, though, Zimmer could return to the Vikings before the Jaguars game. Zimmer is scheduled to conduct his regular Wednesday news conference aafter the team returns to practice Tuesday, so it appears the team is planning for Zimmers return, barring any setbacks.ddddddddddddSpecial-teams coordinator Mike Priefer filled in for Zimmer on Thursday night, carrying out the plan put together by Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman. Afterward, Priefer said he would be honored to be the interim head coach for another game, but added, I hope Im not needed in that capacity.The Vikings have lost six of their past seven games after a 5-0 start and could fall two games behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North if the Lions win at New Orleans on Sunday. A favorable finish to their schedule, though, gives the Vikings a chance of winning out and possibly making the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Their final four opponents -- Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Green Bay and Chicago -- have a combined record of 14-30. ' ' '