Bucs TE Seferian-Jenkins says injury time off made him a better player
Bucs tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins missed nine games with a shoulder injury. FILE, CHRIS URSO/STAFF By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: December 10, 2015 at 09:07 PMTAMPA — Despite missing nine games with a shoulder injury, Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins says he’s a better player now than he was when he was first injured.The long layoff, Seferian-Jenkins, is what allowed him to get better.“It’s unfortunate that I wasn’t able to play, but the good thing is I was really able to learn how to practice like a professional, like Vincent Jackson,’’ Seferian-Jenkins said, referring to the Bucs Pro Bowl wide receiver.“Those first couple weeks (that I was hurt) I just sat back and watched what he did. And then, when he got hurt (with a knee injury) I watched what he did when he was hurt.“It was really a blessing, because if you’re shoulder’s hurt and you can’t play football, well, you can’t play football. But you still have to figure out a way to get better, because (everyone else) is getting better by playing.’’Seferian-Jenkins, who returned to action last week and caught three passes for 31 yards in the Bucs 23-19 victory over the Falcons, said he focused primarily on route-running during his down time.“My biggest thing was, when I come back I want to be known for running (my routes) really fast,’’ he said. “Whatever route it is, I want to know what I have to do so I can run it really fast.’’Seferian-Jenkins was often criticized on social media during his hiatus by fans discouraged by his long absence. Inside the walls of One Buc Place, however, he was being lauded for the work he did while down and out.“I don’t know if I’ve seen a player handle an injury as well as he did,” Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “Just (in terms of) staying in the game. If you watch our games he’s visible. And sometimes it just calls for you to be a cheerleader, to support your teammates. And he did that throughout. No one stayed in the game plan as much as he did — each day in practice, having a script in his hand and getting mental reps. I think he did about all you can do being an injured player (working) to come back.”[email protected]Twitter: @RCummingsTBO
