Ryan Broyles: ‘Right now I’m happy with my progress’
Detroit Lions wide receiver Ryan Broyles (84) prior to a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Lions wide receiver Ryan Broyles has been one of the unluckiest players in the NFL when it comes to injuries, as he has suffered multiple ACL tears during his NFL and collegiate careers and added an Achilles’ tear in Week 8 of last season to his resume. Broyles is undoubtedly a talented player and could be a productive No. 2 or 3 receiver in the Lions offense, but injuries have derailed his career as much as anyone in this league.
According to Lions official site beat writer Tim Twentyman, Broyles has started to run, cut, and jump, and he’s hopeful that he can be ready to make an impact in ten months. Broyles wants nothing more to be helpful and productive in order to bank on his talent and help the Lions organization. As a rookie out of Oklahoma, the 25-year-old showed some promise in limited time during ten games, and he was expected to make a big jump in 2013. That never materialized due to his Achilles’ tear, and we’re all hoping for a healthy, breakout 2014 season.
Broyles said, “Every day I’m getting stronger. I’m four months out and can’t wait to see where I’ll be 10 months out. Right now I’m happy with my progress.”
“I know the deal with the Lions right now and you feel like you have a deadline because there’s guys counting on you, especially coming in from the second round. I feel like I have to go in there and prove something and maybe I did that a little bit before my body was ready (last year).”
I keep drawing parallels to Jahvid Best, and I can only hope that injuries don’t cause Broyles’s career to turn into a sad question of , “What if?”.