Seattle’s Lockett back after bad break
Rehabbing broken leg took most of offseason
RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett’s memories of Christmas 2016 are fuzzy, the result of major surgery and pain medication.
“I don’t remember Christmas. I probably opened one present and I was halfway asleep,” Lockett said.
The speedy, undersized receiver for the Seahawks returned to practice Friday for the first time since December when he broke both bones in his lower right leg. Lockett was activated off the physically unable to perform list, putting behind him the memories of a forgettable Christmas spent in a hospital room recovering from surgery.
Lockett’s work was limited. He did individual drills and fielded punts on special teams — where he was a Pro Bowl selection as a returner in 2015 as a rookie. Basic steps, yes, but progress toward the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the regular season.
“As soon as they let me go today I didn’tknowwhattodosoiwasjust running around, having fun, being a little kid again,” Lockett said.
Lockett’s recovery has been challenging and lengthy. He was hurt when defensive back Brandon Williams landed on him awkwardly during a Christmas Eve loss to Arizona. His surgery started that night and went into Christmas morning.
Hesaidhedoesn’tremember what he opened for a present that night. “It was probably clothes,” Lockett said.
Lockett doesn’t know how long he was in the hospital recovering from surgery. He was in a wheelchair for a time and also had to use crutches. Lockett said the hardest part was spending the majority of the offseason in Seattle constantly doing rehabilitation. He believed three months ago that he was ready to start running and making football moves but understood the precautions being takenbytheseahawkstomake sure he was fully ready to practice.
Despite all those obstacles, Lockett said he wouldn’t ask for a different situation.
“I really learned a lot about life and I really learned a lot that helped me grow throughout this entire process,” Lockett said.
If Lockett is fully healthy by the Sept. 10 opener against Green
Bay, some of the questions facing the Seahawks will be answered. Lockett is Seattle’s primary kickoff and punt returner. By the time he broke his leg, Lockett had also emerged as Seattle’s No. 2 receiver after being slowed early in the season by a sprained knee. Lockett finished last season with 41 receptions — 16 of which came in the three games preceding his injury.
“To see him come back the way that he has and really attack the offseason and the rehab that he needed to do, and to see him back out here at training camp is a special thing,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “Right away I remember going to visit him at the hospital and he was really positive and he knew he was going to get back and what he was going to do and attack the rehab and he’s done it.”