Add broken foot to Sammy Watkins’ growing list of NFL injuries
Mike Rodak
May 162016
http://www.espn.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/24712/add-broken-foot-to-sammy-watkins-growing-list-of-nfl-injuries
Sammy Watkins entered the NFL with such undeniable talent in 2014 that the Buffalo Bills traded the No. 9 overall pick that year, their 2015 first-round selection and a fourth-round pick in 2015 to acquire him.
We’ve seen flashes of dominance from Watkins, including a 158-yard, two-touchdown first half in a Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last season. But, man, it’s getting harder and harder not to say Watkins is injury-prone at the NFL level.
The latest ailment for Watkins is a broken bone in his foot that is expected to sideline him for training camp and the preseason, but not affect his availability for the regular season, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.
Sammy Watkins has racked up injuries at an alarming rate through two seasons. Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
While Watkins has missed only three games in his two-year NFL career because of injury (all last October), the sheer volume of his injuries is troubling for a player who is trying to break out this season as one of the NFL’s best receivers.
Here’s a look at Watkins’ various ailments since entering the NFL:
Aug. 16, 2014: Watkins exited the Bills’ second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with what the team called a rib contusion and did not return.
Aug. 28, 2014: After missing the Bills’ third preseason game, Watkins returned for the preseason finale but pulled himself out of the game after reinjuring his ribs. Months later, Watkins revealed that he was dealing not only with a rib contusion but with broken ribs.
Sept. 14, 2014: Watkins scored his first NFL touchdown in a Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, part of an eight-catch, 117-yard performance. Watkins was checked out by trainers multiple times during the game and was hunched over on the sideline at one point.
Oct. 8, 2014: Watkins was removed from the injury report after being listed for the first five weeks of the season with the rib ailment.
Oct. 22, 2014: Watkins was added to the Bills’ injury report with a groin injury but was a full participant in practice. Four days later, he gained a career-high 157 receiving yards in the Bills’ win over the New York Jets and was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the month for October.
Nov. 5, 2014: Watkins left the Bills’ Wednesday session with a groin injury and did not practice for the rest of the week. However, he played in the Bills’ Nov. 9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, catching four passes on 10 targets.
Nov. 30, 2014: Watkins suffered a hip injury in the Bills’ Week 13 win over the Cleveland Browns but returned to play the following Sunday in a loss to the Denver Broncos, catching seven passes for 127 yards.
Dec. 10, 2014: Watkins was removed from the injury report and did not reappear on it for the final three weeks of the season.
Early 2015 offseason: Watkins underwent surgery on his hip and sat out the vast majority of organized team activities as he rehabbed.
July 31, 2015: Watkins participated fully when the Bills opened training camp at St. John Fisher College.
Aug 6, 2015: Watkins didn’t finish practice after getting “a little nicked up,” as Rex Ryan put it, but Watkins said he was dealing with soreness from his offseason surgery.
Aug. 17, 2015: After easing back into practice, Watkins exited a training camp practice again with what was called glute soreness. He sat out the final three preseason games for precautionary reasons.
Sept. 9, 2015: Watkins was listed on the Bills’ first injury report with a hamstring injury but was a full participant in practice. He was removed from the injury report by Week 2.
Sept. 27, 2015: Watkins left the Bills’ win over the Miami Dolphins with a calf injury and missed two games, against the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans.
Oct. 18, 2015: Watkins fell awkwardly in the end zone while making a 22-yard touchdown catch late in the first half of a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Television cameras later showed him on crutches outside the locker room, and his sprained ankle kept him out of a crushing Bills loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars the next weekend in London.
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