The Seattle Seahawks will meet the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 7 at 1 pm ET, and wideout Deion Branch, former Super Bowl MVP, may be in the game. Branch, who suffered a severe ACL injury last January in a playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, has been ahead of schedule in his rehab effort.
Good News
For the Seahawks, this is exceptionally good news. Branch was not expected to play for the first four to six weeks of the 2008 season. With the injury, the talented receiver had to have his knee reconstructed and then went through the isolation of intensive rehabilitation.
On Wednesday, Branch, who was grabbing passes from a machine and practicing in pads for the first time since sustaining his injury, was noting that he was extremely happy to be back. “It was refreshing, just to be back with the guys running around,” the wideout said. Branch went through all of the fears and doubts that accompany and occupy an athlete when they attempt a comeback from a potential career-ending injury.
Remaining Hurdles
Branch still has to pass a physical in order to play. He’ll also test his knee in practice on Friday before the team leaves for Buffalo. If all goes according to plan, it will be Branch and not Nate Burleson who will occupy the role of number one wide receiver. Seattle has seen its receiving core decimated in the preseason. Bobby Engram is out with a broken shoulder and may not be back until October, while Ben Obomanu is listed on the injured reserve list with a broken clavicle.
Holmgren’s Insights
Head coach Mike Holmgren observed, “The next big hurdle, I would say is up to him. With his ligament injury, it’s been my experience with all the players I’ve had, particular at the wide receiver position … they’re nervous about it.” Holmgren went on to note, “They have to make cuts, and they have to do things that can tell them that they can do it. All of a sudden a defensive back engages him or he has to do something very quick – he hasn’t done that yet. … He’s going to have to tell us he feels good.”
Branch’s Stats
Last season, the receiver played in 11 games, making 49 catches for 661 yards. He caught four touchdown passes, while averaging 13.5 YPC. In six seasons, he has appeared in 78 games, catching 315 balls for 4,130 yards and 22 scores. Branch, whose career average is 13.1 YPC, has never fumbled the ball.
Expectations
However, he has not lived up to his potential since being traded to the Hawks by the New England Patriots for a first-round draft pick in 2006. But this season, Branch seems determined to make a huge mark. When healthy, he can be explosive. That’s the key phrase when it comes to Branch, “When healthy.” The talented wideout has been injured off and on for three of the last four seasons.
