Tennessee football: Former Vol Darrell Taylor still dealing with injury
The Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft pick from the Tennessee football Volunteers is sidelined from training camp.
Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks loved former Tennessee football edge rusher Darrell Taylor so much that they traded up to take him in the second round of the NFL Draft. They didn’t even care that he was dealing with an injury.
Well, that injury is still lingering. Greg Bell of The News Tribune in Takoma, Wash. reported on Wednesday that Carroll said Taylor wasn’t ready to go on the first day of the Seahawks training camp. He is reportedly out indefinitely.
Taylor revealed on Instagram back in February that he played all of 2019 for Tennessee football with a stress fracture in his shin and that he had just undergone surgery for it. Here’s what Bell reported Carroll as saying about the rookie pass rusher.
"“There wasn’t any damage to his knee. He’s just got to get back from the work that he’s been doing. I’m not sure how long it’s going to be. He’s doing some treatments and things that take a week or so to take hold and all of that. Got good response from that, so far.”"
Given the fact that Taylor still managed eight and a half sacks with such an injury, it’s easy to see why somebody like Carroll would be so high on him. However, there is obviously going to be some concern that he is taking this long to recover.
After all, Taylor has a bit of a learning curve. He not only needs to get healthy, but he has to readjust to playing defensive end in Carroll’s 4-3. The team said that wouldn’t be a problem back when they drafted him, noting he just has to do what he’s asked.
However, it takes some time to learn how to do what’s asked, and Taylor needs that time. Training camp is critical for a player like him. His abilities as a pass rusher will translate no matter what, but this part still matters.
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To be fair, Carroll said he hopes that within the next couple of weeks, they’ll know he’s ready. It makes no sense to rush him in right now when he’s so young and it’s this early. Time is on their side, and they have a major investment in making sure Taylor is fully healthy and good to go for a long career in the pros.