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Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett back at full speed

By The Sports Xchange
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) returns a first-quarter kickoff 99 yards against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter on December 31, 2017 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) returns a first-quarter kickoff 99 yards against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter on December 31, 2017 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

Wide receiver Tyler Lockett appeared to be an emerging star after earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015.

Following two injury-plagued seasons, the 25-year-old Lockett again is making an impression in Seattle during organized team activities this week.

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Although Lockett has missed only one game since he was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Kansas State, he was slowed by a knee injury in 2016 and sustained a compound fracture in his right leg at the end of his second season that hindered him in 2017.

Now that he's healthy, the Seahawks are hoping Lockett can regain that form that led to a career-best 51 receptions for six touchdowns as a rookie. He also averaged 9.5 yards on punt returns that year.

"It's really been a blessing for him to be able to get his legs back underneath him," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said, per the Seattle Times. "Last year was a struggle for him, the offseason for certain, but throughout the season itself he was not able to do things in the same manner that he had done it in years past, and that's really just workload."

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Lockett sustained a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg late in the 2016 season, an injury that occurred one week after he set a career best with 130 yards receiving on seven catches.

Although his recovery time was expected to be four-to-six weeks, Carroll said Lockett never was completely right last season. He finished with 45 catches for 555 yards and two scores.

"He just couldn't do as much, had to take care of his legs more," Carroll said. "So he's back at it, he's really playing fast, he has no restrictions of any kind of after effects of the surgery of last year or since he's been hurt. So that's a real positive. He looked great today, in particular."

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