STILL WORKING TO GET BACK
Bullocks is able to participate in individual drills and some running, but cannot do anything team-related.
For Daniel Bullocks, mini-camp is far less than simply working without pads.
Bullocks is still rehabbing to get back from a knee injury suffered in the third week of last year’s preseason. For this three-day camp, he is limited to individual drills and some running.
“I had a little setback (recently) – my knee had a little swelling so I had to take a few steps back and relax a little bit,” he said. “I was moving a little bit too fast – I was rushing (things) and doing a lot more running. I was so anxious to get back – get out there – it was just killing me (not to be out there).
“So I had to take a step back and just ease up a little bit for right now. I couldn’t run or do anything for two or three weeks. But now I’m pretty much back in the full swing of things.”
Bullocks had to miss the entire 2007 season after the injury at Indianapolis and – for a competitor like him – it has been increasingly difficult to watch his teammates prepare for 2008 and not be able to join in.
The coaching and medical staffs are taking extreme precaution with Bullocks, however, making sure that he is actually ready to come back when they test the waters.
“We’re just going day-by-day,” said Bullocks. “They’re really being careful about it. There isn’t a need to rush it right now – it’s just mini-camp. When it really comes down to it towards training camp, that’s when it’s really going to count. Right now it’s just teaching and learning so it really isn’t necessary for me to be out there going 100-percent.”
Even though being held back is the appropriate thing for Bullocks right now, that doesn’t make it any easier to watch the rest of his team participate in team drills while he has to stand on the sideline.
“It’s tough,” said Bullocks. “Sometimes I see guys out there making plays, celebrating and I think, ‘Man, I can’t wait to get out there and celebrate and make plays.’ It’s tough. It’s real tough.”
For now, Bullocks will continue his rehab process.
“I feel I’ve jumped a whole lot further (than I was at the end of last season),” he said. “I mean, strength-wise I’m a whole lot stronger. I feel more comfortable and now I have more trust in my leg as far as cutting, running, angles – changing direction.
“It feels a whole lot better and I also have a lot more confidence than I did toward the end of the season.”
Despite not being able to participate fully in this mini-camp or the offseason program, Bullocks can sense how close the season is and there will be no rest for the weary when the team breaks for it’s annual six-week vacation prior to training camp.
“I haven’t got any time to relax,” said Bullocks. “I already had my time to relax last season. Before I had surgery I had the time to relax, but now it’s a year-long process. It takes one year to come back 100-percent and sometimes even longer than that. But I can’t afford to take five, six weeks off.
“My schedule’s already planned – I’m still going to do my rehab and continue to do what I do to get ready for training camp.”
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