Sammy Watkins’ sophomore season at Clemson didn’t go as swimmingly as his junior campaign. There were no record-breaking outings, the accolades weren’t piling up, and he wasn’t being talked about as the nation’s top wide receiver.
Part of the reason for Watkins’ regression in 2012 came off the field. He was arrested — and subsequently suspended two games — for drug possession, an infraction that put him squarely in the coaches’ doghouse.
When he made his way back to the gridiron, his body didn’t do him any favors, either. Watkins missed two games with a stomach virus, and then suffered an ankle injury, which nagged him throughout the season.
Although durability wasn’t a concern during Watkins’ dazzling 2013 season, his last with the Tigers, that sort of reputation grew in some NFL circles. Gaze upon a few of his scouting reports and you’ll find notes such as, “minor durability concerns” or “minor injury concerns.” There aren’t many weaknesses to Watkins, a supremely blessed athlete, but this certainly became one of them.
And it appears to have followed him to the NFL.
Things were going fine for Watkins, whom the Buffalo Bills drafted with the No. 4 overall pick. He shined in offseason practices, OTAs, minicamp, and training camp, displaying the traits of a future superstar. Remember, we were all going nuts after this training camp grab went viral in late July.
Then came the Bills’ third preseason contest, when he suffered an apparent rib injury and had to be assisted off the field by trainers. X-rays showed it was merely a bruise, and reports indicated his ribs were “fine.”
Bills coach Doug Marrone, known being tight-lipped regarding injuries, didn’t shed much light on Watkins’ status.
“When (Sammy Watkins) comes back, I don’t know. Unless I know for sure, I’m not going to comment,” he said, via the team’s Twitter account.
That Watkins had only a bruise was the best case scenario for the Bills, and the sound you might have heard on Aug. 16 was their collective sigh of relief. After all, they traded a 2015 first-round pick to secure Watkins’ services.
No broken bones. No ligament damage. No seemingly long-term consequences. A major crisis had been averted, right?
Not so fast.
After sitting out the team’s fourth preseason tilt — a.k.a. its regular-season dress rehearsal — Watkins returned to game action in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. Normally, only deep backups fighting for roster spots played in these games. Watkins, obviously, had nothing to worry about in terms of job security, but he needed the reps to shake off any lingering rust.
What came next was a dreaded case of deja vu. Watkins, in an attempt to catch a slant from quarterback E.J. Manuel, took a forearm to the ribs — those very same ribs — from a Lions linebacker. Tests confirmed he ended up aggravating the previous rib injury, effectively concluding an enormously mundane preseason in which he caught just three passes for 21 yards.
At last check, Watkins was reported as being “good to go” for the regular season opener in Chicago. Marrone, being his typical self, said he will “wait and see for the game” to decide if Watkins will be active against the Bears. All signs point to Watkins playing, as he’s practiced fully and without limitation.
That will give the Bills, and their fans, peace of mind in the short-term. But what about the long haul? Recurring injuries, as I’ve already laid out, are nothing new for Watkins, and he’s one good midsection shot away from potentially cracking his already-fragile ribs.
There’s also the matter of Watkins playing in an offense headed by the inconsistent Manuel, who led Watkins much too far on the slant attempt. A popular term for those kind of passes is “hospital ball” — as in, the receiver will end up in the hospital after trying to catch the ball. Manuel has made an ugly habit of throwing those, and its consequences far outweigh the reward.
Perhaps that’s why the Bills decided to sign Kyle Orton, luring the veteran signal-caller out of retirement to provide some valuable insurance. Buffalo will do what’s in its best interests, which includes Watkins, their prized draft acquisition.
No matter who’s under center, however, opposing teams will undoubtedly know to target Watkins and lay the lumber. He can’t help the Bills win games if he’s on the sidelines, or the trainer’s table.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe Watkins is an incredible talent who’s capable of lighting up the league for years to come. But it would be foolish not to point out that every player has his kryptonite.
For Watkins, in 2014, his ribs could be just that.