“Why wouldn’t I?” he said. “It’s one thing that’s been engrained in me. I know exactly what to do. I’m a professional, so I could actually go out there with no practice at all and still be able to mentally be ready to go play.”

“Now will I make a mistake? Yes, because I’ll be rusty. (I) haven’t been practicing – But being a professional, I could go back out there and score touchdowns.”

Holmes, a Pro Bowl running back who has always shunned the spotlight, has been particularly elusive this offseason. He went on injured reserve in November and then retreated to his home in San Antonio while the locals speculated on his future. Holmes, who was in the area Monday for the Offense-Defense Sports camp at Central Missouri State, has been seeing spinal specialist Robert Watkins.

Holmes said he still hasn’t been cleared for contact and he’s left it in his doctors’ hands to decide when he’ll be ready to play. Asked whether his final evaluation will happen before training camp next month, Holmes said he didn’t know.

Asked whether the doctors could conclude that he’d never play again, he said, “Ultimately, I believe at the end of the day, it is my final say, my final decision. Will I take what they say to heart and really think about it? I will once the time comes.”

“I feel great. Now medically, what I’ve been told is that I need to wait and not make a quick decision based on the excitement and feeling as though I feel great and I can get out there.”