Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward's status is revealed

Coward appeared Saturday at a Memphis Redbirds minor league baseball game, where he handled first-pitch duties and signed autographs along with fellow Grizzlies rookie Javon Small. Coward told Cole that he received complete clearance from the team’s medical staff in August.

“I feel good,” he said. “The workouts we’re doing now, I feel great in them.”

A partially torn rotator cuff limited Coward to six games at Washington State last season. He underwent surgery, but said he felt fine by the draft, and Memphis was willing to trade up to the No. 11 pick to take him.

However, he didn’t participate in the Las Vegas Summer League as the team determined he wasn’t ready to play at the time.

Coward isn’t expected to be under any restrictions heading into camp, and he said he’s “super excited” for the team’s first preseason game on October 6.

“That’s the best thing ever,” he said. “I haven’t played live competition since November. … For me, I do it every day now that I can. I don’t have to hold anything back. I don’t got people telling me to take a break and stuff. It’s like letting the wolves out. That’s what it is.”