Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
McMillan preps for return
Linebacker ready to resume career after losing year to injury
DAVIE — Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillan sought out a pair of teammates to help him cope with the first injury of his career.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Frank Gore were the perfect selections, because they both endured similar seasonending knee injuries. Now healthy, McMillan is ready for his first NFL action after missing all of his rookie season because of a right knee ACL tear in the first preseason game.
“That’s the worst thing you can do, is think about it,” McMillan said Thursday. “I kind of got some advice from Frank Gore and Tannehill … When you get out there and you’re going, that needs to be the last thing on your mind.”
Tannehill was especially helpful for McMillian, because they dealt with the injury at the same time. Tannehill was also knocked out of action during the preseason.
The two had the surgery on the same date and returned to the Dolphins training facility together.
“From day one, it was always a competition,” McMillan said. “Who could run full speed under water first. Who could get a bigger quad muscle. Just little stupid stuff like that and keep competing with each other.”
Working alongside Tannehill also helped McMillan deal with tough stretches. There were days frustration set in because he was unable to perform at his previous level.