Road to Recovery

PHILADELPHIA – Often times, when a player is placed on injured reserve, they are largely considered out of sight, out of mind from those on the outside looking in.

Their schedule may differ from teammates, but the reality is that those players work diligently behind the scenes – out of the public eye — in hopes of returning to the field in short order.

The most recent example of that would be rookie C/G Willie Lampkin, whose practice window opened Thursday after missing the first eight games due to an injury sustained in the preseason.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles G/C Willie Lampkin is closing in on his Eagles debut after spending his offseason with the Los Angeles Rams.

Lampkin, awarded off waivers via the Rams during roster cutdowns, was placed on injured reserve days after joining the Eagles.

Listed at 5-foot-11, 290 pounds, Lampkin, often spotted working off to the side with fellow injured rookies Cameron Williams and Myles Hinton, was easy to spot. Sporting an atypical build for an NFL offensive lineman, the North Carolina product is a compact ball of mass, showcasing heavy hands when working the pads and appreciable hustle with every movement.

With time now ticking on his 21-day practice window, Lampkin may soon find himself in the Eagles’ immediate plans. Lampkin hasn’t appeared in a game since late August, but 23-year-old maintained a positive mindset while sidelined and appears to be trending in a positive direction.

“It was good,” he said of his recovery process. “Everything’s feeling better. Trying to get to a hundred percent, but everything’s feeling good.”

Lampkin’s daily regimen didn’t drastically differ from that of his teammates. He attended lifting sessions and meetings, with treatment sandwiched somewhere in between. And even though Lampkin was deprived of invaluable practice reps, he strived to stay ahead in his own way with extra meetings and field work. And plenty of mental reps.

“Being able to watch those guys play and being out there on the sideline watching them definitely helps having that visual cue, being able to see with those guys that are already doing it are out there doing it,” he said. “The mental reps definitely help, and I’m just ready to get back.”

In meetings, Lampkin constantly takes notes. He’s a self-proclaimed “quiet guy,” so he isn’t typically one to be vocal, but noted how much he’s absorbed from being around the likes of his star-studded linemates.

Aiding Lampkin in his crash course is renowned offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Stoutland, a demanding coach known for fixating on details and techniques and getting the most out of his group, has already left an impression on Lampkin, who identified a notable coaching point conveyed.

“Organized mass,” he said. “We want everybody on the same levels, we want everybody doing the same thing, and that’s how we create organized mass.”

Lampkin arrived in Philadelphia on the heels of cutdowns and was subsequently shelved, so he didn’t have much time to acquaint himself with teammates. But his recovery period afforded him plenty of time to develop a relationship with Williams and Hinton. Lampkin said the trio would be out on the practice field “running, joking and having fun” in an effort to make the best out of their respective situations. The rookies leaned on and supported one another throughout the process.

“I got to know Cam, I got to know Myles more than I would have if I wasn’t with them,” he said.

On Friday, Lampkin logged his second practice of the season, suggesting the long road to return could potentially be coming to an end, assuming he’s without a setback. Should that time come, Lampkin is confident with seemingly every aspect of the organization.

“I feel good,” he said. “I feel like I know the offense a lot more. I feel like I understand the culture here a lot more. And I’m ready to help the team in any way.”

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com