Seahawks Will Tyler Lockett recover and pick up where he left off?
By Ben Renner
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett is still recovering from a broken leg. He could be ready by Week 1. Will he pick up where he left off?
Before Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett ended his season with a broken leg last season, he was on his way to setting a new career-high in receiving yards. He finished with 597 yards on 41 catches and one touchdown, improving on his rookie year’s yards per catch mark with a 14.6 yards per catch average in 2016.
Lockett broke his leg when his foot got caught up while being tackled from behind after a long catch against Arizona (don’t click on that link if you’re queasy). The road to recovery hasn’t been easy for the third-year receiver out of Kansas State, one of Pete Carroll’s darlings in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Lockett nearly reached his 2015 receiving yardage total last season despite a lower catch rate and fewer catches overall. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell used Lockett as an effective deep threat, stretching opposing defenses.
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Bevell even got creative in using Lockett in the running game, unleashing him on six carries last year, including a 75-yard scamper against the Panthers.
Lockett of course is a former Pro Bowler for his return specialties, and was a decent punt and kick returner again last season. In 2017, if his leg is indeed fully healthy, it could be off to the races again.
Speed like Lockett’s fits in on any team, and the Seahawks will be happy to use him in different offensive roles, possibly similar to how the Falcons used Taylor Gabriel last season in their historically great offense.
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Lockett adds to what could be a sneaky-good arsenal of receivers for quarterback Russell Wilson next season, with Doug Baldwin catching everything that comes his way, and tight end Jimmy Graham making a larger impact in the red zone. Toss in healthy seasons from Lockett and Paul Richardson, and the Seahawks could be very tough to cover. Lockett adds the speed dimension that keeps defenses from clamping down on Graham’s middle of the field and Baldwin’s small window of separation.