At least for the day Manny Arceneaux was back with the starting offense.
Arceneaux has been the game-day scratch for the past three games, following Jordan Williams-Lambert’s return to the lineup. Now, there’s a chance the roles will be reversed for Saturday’s game.
“We’re still deciding,” says Head Coach Craig Dickenson. “We want to get them both some reps and we’ll see later in the week how it goes. But we did want to give Manny a little more work today.”
Since Williams-Lambert took over as the field-side wide receiver three games ago, he has five receptions on 10 targets for 57 yards. And he’s drawn one defensive pass interference call, earning 10 more yards.
That, plus the things that don’t appear in the box score, hasn’t been enough for Dickenson.
“We didn’t think he played as well as he is capable of. We think he can do more. So we’re going to challenge him to do that.”
In Arceneaux’s last three games, he had nine catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. He has taken the demotion in stride, and continues to say the right things.
“I just control the things that I can control and that’s my preparation,” says Arceneaux. “And at the end of the day those guys are the ones that set the final roster and decide who they’re going to go with. In the meantime all I can do is focus on the things that I need to do to be ready.”
NOTES: One other change on offense saw Takoby Cofield take over at left tackle from Terran Vaughn. Cofield played the first three games of the season before injury.
Defensive tackle Micah Johnson returned to practice after missing a week (ankle).
Half backs Ed Gainey (back) and Loucheiz Purifoy (personal) both missed practice Tuesday. Dickenson says Purifoy will be back at work on Wednesday.