Collins on speedy rehab: 'I had my doctors traveling with me' originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Nine months removed from tearing his Achilles, Landon Collins is participating fully at Washington Football Team Training Camp.
The speed of his recovery was unexpected for everyone. That is, everyone but him. In an interview with NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay on the latest Washington Football Talk podcast, the 27-year-old safety explained what it took to it back so quickly.
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"Hard work and dedication," Collins said of his rehabilitation. "Literally constant work, constantly in the gym, constant rehab."
Collins said he took his vacation time as any player does in the offseason, but he took all necessary measures to ensure there were no setbacks and no delays in his recovery.
"It was day and night," he said. "I had my doctors traveling with me, so day and night honestly."
His doctors told him he'd be out 9 to 12 months, but in a lot of these cases full rehabilitation takes closer to a year. Collins, however, said he was even ready to participate in OTAs.
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"I feel awesome," the 3-time Pro Bowl safety said. "I feel like myself again. I don't feel no lag. I don't feel any bad tension or anything pulling. Really just out there playing football again."
Collins suffered the injury in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys, cutting the third season of his six-year contract with Washington short. After watching Washington's defense shine in the latter stages of the season, he's eager to compete for a spot and pick up where he left off in 2020.
"I started clicking before I got my injury," he said. "Dallas Cowboys game I was clicking and then boom, the injury happened."
Time is not exactly on his side. He's got something to prove after losing a season to injury and failing to produce for Washington the same way he produced for the New York Giants. The sense of urgency he displayed with his recovery was perhaps an acknowledgement of that.
