After missing the first half of last season while recovering from a torn ACL, Seahawks receiver Paul Richardson was eager to rejoin Seattle’s offense. His return lasted just one game as a hamstring injury suffered on his only catch of the season landed him on injured reserve.
“It was pretty defeating,” Richardson said of the injury. “My attitude, my spirits were down. I had to find a way to pick back up to be able to come back for this offseason. That’s what I did and I’m pretty proud about how things have gone since then.”
Richardson spent the first nine weeks of the season ineligible to play while on the physically unable to perform list. He had suffered a torn ACL in Seattle’s playoff victory over the Carolina Panthers in January, 2014. Against the Arizona Cardinals in his first game back off PUP, Richardson beat Jerraud Powers off the line of scrimmage and Russell Wilson delivered a perfect strike for a 40-yard gain. Then the hamstring gave out.
“It was pretty frustrating because I want to play football,” he said.
Richardson is back practicing during mini-camp for the Seahawks are appears to be fully healthy once again.
“Paul is off to a great start in camp, gosh he has done really well,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “Obviously the hard work that he had, he had so much work on the sidelines last year. He is strong and really fast. We clocked him as fast as he has ever been for us in the OTAs, he is ready to compete and really help us.”
Richardson caught 29 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown in his rookie season in 2014. His speed could pair well with Tyler Lockett to stretch opposing defenses while opening space up for Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham. However, that speed has to be on the field in order to contribute.