INDIANAPOLIS — Jack Doyle, Clayton Geathers and Deon Cain.
Each important in their own way to their respective position groups, and each working their way back from various injuries and procedures for the Indianapolis Colts.
All three on Wednesday spoke to reporters and provided updates about their injuries and recovery timelines:
» Jack Doyle: The seventh-year tight end is coming off an injury-plagued season for the first time in his career, as he initially suffered a hip injury Week 2 against the Washington Redskins, missed five games, and then suffered a season-ending kidney injury Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins. While the kidney is good to go, Doyle underwent surgery to his hip earlier this offseason, and is expected to be back in the fold during training camp.
"I feel good," Doyle said. "Happy with the progress that I am making. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time but happy with where I'm at."
Doyle said he lost about 20 to 25 pounds after his kidney procedure, but has gained most of that weight back by now. He said the hip surgery was likely going to happen this offseason even before suffering his kidney injury, and that he's been able to start running and cutting while working with team trainers here lately.
Doyle said he's itching to get back on the field with his teammates as soon as possible.
"It's hard to watch if it's a game, if it's a practice, if it's a spring practice – it's hard not being out there with your teammates and having fun playing football," he said. "But like I said, just trying to take it one day at a time. Have a great training staff and we're working to get back out there when I'm ready."
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» Clayton Geathers: Geathers has battled through a variety of injuries during his four seasons with the Colts, and last year was no exception. He missed the offseason workout program after undergoing knee surgery, was back by training camp, but then was in and out of practice the entire season as he dealt with knee, neck and elbow injuries.
In all, Geathers in 2018 played and started in 12 games, and had 86 tackles, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Geathers said Wednesday he had another minor knee procedure done this offseason, which is why he's been held out of OTA practices.
"You want to make sure that everything is right before you get out there," Geathers said. "You don't want to get out there and then be back in here. We're just following the plan and making sure that everything is OK."
Geathers said the goal for 2019 is simply to be available much more, both on the practice field and on gamedays.
"The goal is to practice more," he said. "That's my mindset. It's kind of protecting me from myself. It's good. I think the plan we have in place is a good plan and I'm just trying to stick to it and follow it."
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» Deon Cain: Cain was the talk of training camp last year, as the 2018 sixth-round pick out of Clemson was seemingly making flash play after flash play each and every day at the wide receiver position.
But his season ended before it could ever get started, as he suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play during the Colts' very first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks — on his birthday, of all days.
Cain has since had an intense recovery and rehab regimen, which has helped him begin running routes once again. The goal is for him to be back on the field with the team during training camp, and general manager Chris Ballard said he feels Cain will really start to get back to 100 percent by about midway through the regular season.
"I'm pretty much still doing everything," Cain said when asked what his rehab work is like. "Just working still on the field running routes and stuff like that. Still running and getting my conditioning down. Basically doing most everything that they are doing on the offseason program. Still pretty much in the flow but just with the trainers and stuff."
Cain said he's also anxiously awaiting the opportunity to simply get back on the field, throw on his practice jersey and compete for a job once again.
"Just want to go and get back into the flow of staying in football shape and actually coming back, hearing the plays and going back all through that same momentum," he said. "I know I still have got the same capabilities just from what I have been doing with my trainers. I feel like I'm still there, I just want to get back into that football flow and come back in being the same guy."
