Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell went through the type of rookie season that isn’t seen very often. The second-round pick endured a career’s worth of injuries over the course of a six-month span.
Soft tissue injuries, sports hernia, a broken hand and a broken foot kept the Ohio State product from getting consistent playing time during his first season in the NFL. Three of those injuries required surgery.
Entering his second season, Campbell is using this time to prioritize his health.
“Aside of obviously working out, conditioning, doing all those things, catching footballs and all that stuff – those are things that I’ve always done. But just when I speak of the routine I’m just talking about things to do to take care of my body,” Campbell told reporters this month. “Whether that’s doing ART (active release techniques) twice a week, getting massages three times a week, stretching every morning and night. I’ve really kind of honed in on that. Just making sure my body is in tip-top shape. As soon as I’m not feeling well one day, I’m talking to the trainers – even though I can’t see them, I’m talking to them and letting them know what’s going on, seeing what I can do next. I have a strict routine like I said, ART, massages, stretching. I’m really honed in on that.”
Had Campbell not gone through the ringer of injuries, he would have had ample opportunities to break out during his rookie season. He wasn’t the only wide receiver dealing with ailments as the entire room seemed to have caught the injury bug throughout the 2019 campaign.
But the past is the past, and Campbell now is looking toward making an impact during his second season.
With T.Y. Hilton returning on the final year of his current contract and Michael Pittman Jr. joining the room as the likely X receiver on the boundary, Campbell will mostly work out of the slot while the Colts find other creative ways to get him the ball.
Campbell has a chance to carve out a role in the offense in Year 2 but making sure his health is in order should be top priority for the speedy wideout.