FanPost

Benkert injury... the comeback is underway

Hi everyone. Just some quick thoughts on Kurt Benkert and the injury before I head out to the airport...

LAST year, he looked really sharp in his first preseason outing. But in the remaining preseason games, the last string offensive line that was "protecting" him looked more like the five pillows with angry faces from Dave's classic one act play. (Click here if you'd like to see it.)

Benkert was frequently hit, essentially running for his life on nearly every pass attempt, and played as if he was rattled. I was looking forward to seeing how that aspect of his game had improved this preseason - whether he'd be able to stay cool under pressure.

To me that's the biggest setback of having him out. The reps he'd get over the remaining preseason games would have been fantastic for his development, as they would be game reps against actual opponents who really were trying to hit him... hard. He won't get another chance at having all those full contact reps until next preseason.

Otherwise, the rest of the story is actually pretty upbeat. The team put him on IR. That's a positive in that they did NOT release him with an injury settlement. He's still in their plans.

For anyone wondering why he'd go on IR for a toe injury (we still haven't heard any more details than that) that initially seemed like a minor thing, part of it is that he underwent surgery. Once that decision was made, it wasn't a question of rest or a special shoe to protect it. Surgery makes it definite that he's out for a few months and won't be able to put weight on the forward part of his foot for a while. For that matter, if you happen to see him somewhere in the Greater Braselton Metropolitan Area anytime in the next week or so, you might even see him on one of those scooters like Drew Davis had when he was on the PUP list.

Update: the surgery was a success. Now it's rest and recovery, but I'm sure he'll be watching quite a bit of game film and doing everything he can to keep the mental part of his game sharp.

One other reminder... the IR rules changed a few years ago so that teams don't have to designate a player as eligible for recall when they go on IR. Benkert's season might not be over.

<em>This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.</em>