By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
TAMPA — Several prominent players have been in attendance at the team's unofficial lockout workouts this week, including ringleader Josh Freeman, tight end Kellen Winslow and even rookie tight end Luke Stocker.
Perhaps the most surprising appearance, however, was that of second-year receiver Arrelious Benn. Not long ago — December, to be exact — Benn was hobbling around the Bucs' locker room after sustaining a torn ACL in Week 16.
Yet, here he was on a steamy Tampa practice field, less than six months later, catching balls from Freeman and backups Josh Johnson and Rudy Carpenter. It was, to say the least, a surprise. Turns out, even Benn is taken aback at his rapid recovery from an injury that often requires nine months or more of intense rehab.
"I'm new to the knee injury thing, but for the most part, I didn't think that I'd be back this fast," Benn said. "I kind of feel like it never happened. But I have to be smart. I still have things coming back together in my knee. I might not feel it, but I'm young right now, so I heal fast."
And therein lies the challenge: Knowing how much is too much. Benn is working with personal trainers who have been overseeing his rehab since the Bucs cannot do so because of lockout rules that prohibit teams from having contact with their players during the work stoppage.
But Benn said his trainers have cleared him to run, which he has done impressively during workouts. He said he doesn't have full clearance to make sudden changes of direction, which would put stress on the reconstructed knee ligament.
Then again, it sure seemed like Benn was making at least a few cuts.
"On my good leg," he joked. "But for the most part, I'm trying to take it slow and be smart."
When the subject of training camp was raised, Benn said he intends to be ready to participate if the traditional schedule is maintained. But he added that he would have to defer to the Bucs once the lockout ends, because he'll again be under the team's care.
After a rough few months, there's one thing Benn is sure of. "I hate being injured," he said.
At this rate, Benn will be able to rid himself of that label sooner rather than later.