Blazer trainer: Oden's knee 'fabulous'

Rookie center should be ready to go for preseason

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Jun 18, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (13 Reader comments)

SAM FORENCICH / GETTY IMAGES

The Blazers are still being cautious with center Greg Oden, but trainer Jay Jensen says the No. 1 draft pick of 2007 is progressing well from a knee injury and "his body is unbelievably powerful."

Greg Oden’s surgically repaired knee is progressing at such a clip that the man in charge of his rehabilitation believes he will be ready to play for the Trail Blazers during the 2008-09 exhibition season.

“I totally expect Greg to be able to play in the preseason,” says Jay Jensen, soon to begin his 15th season as the Blazer trainer. “How Nate (McMillan, the Portland coach) decides to use him, though, is up to Nate.”

Jensen stresses that the Blazers will continue to go slowly with Oden, who underwent microfracture surgery last September and missed the entire 2007-08 season. They did the same thing with Brandon Roy, who played in only the final two preseason games last year while recovering from a heel injury.

“We’re biding our time with Greg,” Jensen says. “Our goals this summer with him (include) maintaining his weight, strengthening his legs and letting the healing process continue without him taking a hard pounding.

“He’s not fragile, but it has been a long process for him. He has been getting antsy to get back out there, and we have been holding the reins on him.”

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