Jones and Damp update

Eddie Jones could play tonight against Portland depending on how his sore right leg feels before the game. The injury, suffered Monday in the win over Houston, is above the ankle and initially had Jones worried.

“When it happened, it felt boney,” he said after shootaround at the Rose Garden. “I was a little afraid.”

Jones had an MRI that came back negative. “Immediately I felt better,” he said. He has experienced swelling after practicing this week, but it’s subsided lately. The test for tonight will be if he’s able to move from side-to-side.

“If the lateral movement is there, I’m playing,” Jones said.

Erick Dampier is also progressing nicely, with Avery Johnson hinting the center may be back soon.

“It’s a possibility,” Johnson said. “We definitely have a timeframe.”

Johnson wasn’t about to share it, but Dampier is on the right track.

“Damp is good,” Johnson said. “He had a good practice yesterday. He was trying to send me a message and I heard it loud and clear. We want him stronger. We need Damp to be strong.”