Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson is many things. But on the Virginia Mason Athletic Center field after Thursday’s practice, one thing stood out above the others: He is ready.
He is ready to get on the field, ready to catch passes and ready to win games. Burleson started 2008 on a strong note, catching five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ first game of the season. But in the third quarter of that game in Buffalo, things went downhill quickly. Burleson tore the ACL in his left knee. He missed the remainder of the 2008 season.
But after eight months of rehabilitation, Burleson has had a chance to get back to the sport he loves during the team’s organized team activity (OTA) Thursday at the VMAC.
“Just to actually be out here, run routes, catch balls, it’s a huge step,” Burleson said. “To finally get to utilize all of that work in rehab on the field, it’s a great feeling.”
Adding to the bitter feeling of losing a season was the fact that Burleson had such high hopes for 2008. With a strong offseason and preseason, “it seemed like every time I touched the ball I was getting toward the end zone or in the end zone.”
The Seahawks suffered a rash of wide receiver injuries and struggled to a 4-12 record. For Burleson, watching his team struggle from the stands was a new, and unwelcome, experience.
But now that he’s back out on the grass, wearing No. 81 again, he has gained a new perspective for the game.
“It helped me appreciate the little things,” he said. “Being out there warming up, just going through the daily routine of grinding it out. I won’t take that for granted again.”
Burleson said the team’s faith to him through his injury and rehabilitation adds even more motivation to get back, better than ever. He caught 50 passes for 694 yards and nine touchdowns for Seattle in the 2007 season, his second with the team and fifth in the NFL.
The 27-year-old moved to Renton with his family in the seventh grade. He attended Lindbergh High School for his freshman season before transferring to O’Dea. While he now lives in Newcastle, his family remains in Renton.
Burleson on third-round draft pick, wide receiver Deon Butler: “Deon is going to bring young, fast, elusive, playmaking abilities to this team. Just from what I’ve seen in camp, you couldn’t even tell he was a rookie. He was making plays, running past some of our veterans cornerbacks and doing a tremendous job out here on the field.”
Burleson on free agent addition, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh: “He’s just a hard-nosed player. He was probably the glue that held the Cincinnati Bengals together through all of the ups and downs and drama that they had over there.”
Burleson on the atmosphere at practice under new head coach Jim Mora: “It’s not too much different. There is an excitement and an enthusiasm, just because it’s new. Everybody’s curious to see what’s going to happen. I think we’re embracing the challenge of a new guy at the helm.”
