It was a few months ago while meeting with reporters that Keenan Allen doubted he'd be back on the field during OTAs.
In the midst of a rigorous rehab after missing virtually all of 2016 with an ACL injury, the wideout stated his target was to be on the field in training camp.
However, fast forward to Tuesday morning and KA13 was right there alongside his teammates for the start of Phase III.
"I actually didn't think I'd be out here competing like this this early," he said following the session. "It is what it is. I'm feeling good…. I was ready to go today. I felt good and I feel like I had a good day. Two weeks ago I got cleared to do everything."
The fifth-year wideout looked like his old self at practice, running smooth routes while plucking the ball with ease. Yet more important than his performance was how his knee felt.
"(It gives me the) confidence to put major pressure on the right leg and push off on it (to) do what I want to with it. Anytime I can run a route without thinking about my knee it definitely (gives me) confidence…Once I figured out my knee wasn't going to be sore throughout the day, I felt confident."
Nonetheless, the Bolts plan to take it slow with their top wideout. While Head Coach Anthony Lynn was pleased with how Allen looked, he reiterated the team will play it smart as to not push him too soon.
"We've been real cautious with him," he said. "We're just working him in. Right now he's on a limited basis, but he's full go…He's been running well. He's been running routes well. He's done a hell of a job in the training room working with Damon Mitchell, our head trainer."
Lynn also agreed with Allen's perspective that the biggest thing to be gained is learning to trust his knee.
"That's true, and (this is) when you get that confidence. When you get back out here and start making the hard cuts, running the comebacks, coming out of breaks. He'll be his old self in no time…When we get to training camp we're getting ready for Week 1. So it's important he gets out here and gets this work done right now."
