Jets Forward Placed On Injured Reserve; Defenseman Returns In Non-Contact Jersey

Winnipeg Jets forward Mason Appleton has been placed on the injured reserve, and defenseman Haydn Fleury returned to practice in a non-contact jersey.

Appleton suffered a lower-body injury on Dec. 28 against the Ottawa Senators and has been out of the lineup since. The Jets placed the 28-year-old on the IR retroactive to Dec. 28, allowing him to return whenever he is healthy. HC Scott Arniel's initial report on Appleton's injury is that he is week-to-week.

Fleury skated alongside Dylan Samberg in non-contact jerseys today, marking the first time Fleury has been on the ice since he suffered a scary-looking leg injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 23.

Fleury was also announced week-to-week, but returning to practice is a good sign for the 28-year-old. His return is not imminent, but it shows he is trending in the right direction.

If both Fleury and Samberg are nearing returns, the Jets might run into a problem that most teams would love to have. The Jets will have a log jam of NHL defenders on their roster and could find themselves in a position where they need to place someone on waivers or move them.

For now, the Jets will let Samberg and Fleury take as much time as they need to get themselves healthy again before returning to the lineup.

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