After the Indianapolis Colts gave the oft-injured offensive lineman a second chance last spring, Mewhort abruptly announced he was retiring Wednesday.
"I would like to thank the Irsay family and the entire Colts organization for giving me the opportunity to live a childhood dream," Mewhort said, referring to the team owner in a statement released by the team after its morning practice. "The fans and the city of Indianapolis have treated me like one of their own, and I am forever grateful. Wearing the horseshoe was one of the biggest honors I have ever known, and I will always bleed blue."
Mewhort came to Indianapolis as a second-round draft pick in 2014, billed as part of the long-term solution to protecting quarterback Andrew Luck. His promising career started well.
Mewhort made 14 starts as a rookie, 13 at left guard, one at right tackle, and played well enough in both spots that the Colts moved him to right tackle in 2015.
Three games into the experiment Colton Sissons Jersey , it was over. Mewhort's struggles on the leaky line prompted the Colts to move him back to his old spot, where he finished the season by starting the last 13 games.
The devastating knee injuries began in 2016.
He missed six of the last 10 games that season and all but five games in 2017, finishing both seasons on injured reserve. Even when he did play, he was rarely at full strength.
Mewhort's health issues scared most teams away when he became a free agent during the offseason.
But even after drafting Quenton Nelson with the No. 6 overall pick in April and immediately plugging Nelson into Mewhort's spot at left guard, the Colts thought highly enough of Mewhort and his potential to take a low-risk gamble. They re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, with an additional $1.5 million available in incentives.
When Mewhort reported to training camp last week, he sounded confident that with some extra rest he could stay healthy enough to at least win a spot on another revamped offensive line. The Colts were hoping he could provide depth and versatility to the line, even if he didn't completely regain his old form.
His comeback attempt officially ended on the same day longtime left tackle Anthony Castonzo was activated from the non-football injury list.
"Jack Mewhort gave this organization everything he had in his four seasons with the team," general manager Chris Ballard said. "He fought through injuries and played through pain. Jack is a selfless player who always carried a team-first mentality. He is revered among his coaches, teammates and staff Anthony Averett Jersey , and his leadership will be missed in the locker room. We're appreciative of Jack's dedication to the Colts, and we wish him the best moving forward."
During the Texans‘ nine-week offseason program, Deshaun Watson had a set of goals in mind.
The second-year quarterback out of Clemson, who is recovering from tearing his right ACL during practice last season, said he met and surpassed them by the end of the team’s final veteran minicamp on Wednesday.
”Never satisfied, I always feel like I can do better,” Watson said. ”We’ll get better. Those nine weeks I’ve gained a lot on and off the field. Mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and I’ve been able to take my game and me as a person to another level.”
Going through this rehab process is not new to Watson.
In his freshman season at Clemson Authentic Jared Goff Jersey , Watson tore the ACL in his left knee during practice as well. Having been through it before and knowing the work he put in, Watson wasn’t surprised about his progress.
”I kind of knew where I was going to be,” Watson said. ”I put the time, effort and work in every morning. Just been grinding, so I’m not surprised at all. I’m right where I need to be and where I want to be.”
Despite having to recover from the injury, Watson feels as if he is ahead of where he was this time last year.
In 2017, Watson was selected No. 12 overall by the Texans and participated in the offseason program. During his second offseason in the NFL, his experience from the past year is paying dividends now.
”I’m light years away from where I was last year coming in,” Watson said. ”Just a rookie knowing what I knew from college and what I learned in the pre-draft and what I learned in the QB room. Everything was going so fast, a lot of information at that time.
”Having a full season and offseason with Coach (Bill) O’Brien and Coach Sean Ryan I’ve been able to advance my game and take my game to a whole other level. It’s been great.”
O’Brien has seen first-hand the improvement and development of the young quarterback.
”With the work ethic he has and the mindset that he has you’re going to get better at knowledge of the offense Ramon Humber Jersey , knowledge of the defense and your own mechanics,” O’Brien said.
”There’s just been a lot of improvement in a lot of different areas. He’ll keep it going over the next five weeks and he’ll be ready for training camp.”
Heading into this year’s training camp for the Texans, unlike in some past seasons, there is no doubt who will be taking the reps with the main offensive unit.
With everything being settled on that side, O’Brien said he knows how the reps will be divided.
The biggest benefit is the team knows exactly what they will start working on once training camp begins.
”This year we know who our starting quarterback is,” O’Brien said. ”Obviously we’re very comfortable with that. That’s a good thing for our football team. All that means is that we’re settled there.
”It doesn’t mean anything relative to last year. It just means hey look we’ve got to come in ready to go in training camp and we’ve got to continue where we left off from when he was the quarterback.”
The Texans will finish their offseason program with meetings on Thursday before breaking for five weeks. Houston will open training camp at The Greenbrier in West Virginia at the end of July.
The Texans open their preseason at Kansas City on Aug. 9.
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08.10.2018 10:15
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