Many NFL players who are rehabbing and recovering from injury this offseason are finding their road to a comeback full of hurdles due to the restrictions imposed by the league’s lockouts as a result of the coronavirus.
Such is the case for New York Giants second-year linebacker Ryan Connelly, who is on the road back from a tone ACL that wrecked his promising rookie season. Connelly tore his ACL in the Giants’ Week 4 game against the Washington Redskins last year and missed the remainder of the season.
Connelly would normally be working out and rehabbing at the Giants’ headquarters at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, gearing up for the Giants’ OTAs which were set to begin on April 8.
That’s all off for now, but Connelly has vowed to keep working and says he will be ready for the 2020 season regardless. As per the New York Post, he “retreated to the weight room in his apartment complex and a nearby outdoor field, following instructions sent by trainer Steve Canelli.”
“I’ll be ready to go for training camp,” Connelly told The Post. “I think I would’ve been able to do some limited participation in OTAs. I was excited to do individual periods and get reps, but who knows if I will get that chance given the scheduling changes due to the coronavirus.
“There haven’t been any setbacks. I’m starting to do some cutting and explosive running. We understand that I’ve had a lot of time, so we haven’t been pushing it or trying to rush through things. Lower body, starting from ground zero getting my strength and flexibility back, and making sure [the knee] can flex and extend fully.”
The Giants haven’t decided exactly what their defensive alignment will be under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, but Connelly is expected to play a key role. The signing of inside linebacker Blake Martinez could push Connelly to an outside slot or it could team him up with the former Packer as a 3-4 interior guy.
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