Seattle Seahawks wide receiver John Ursua, like you and I, has been implementing the new social distancing recommendations into place while he prepares for the 2020 season.
However, thanks to his home in Hawaii being devoid of the usual throng of tourists, the second-year wideout has been able to enjoy his quarantined situation more than most.
“Some of the parks and beaches are open, so you can go to the beach and do a sand workout, then I can go to the park and put on my cleats and get together with a smaller group,” Ursua told Dave ‘Softy’ Mahler and Dick Fain on 950 KJR on Wednesday. “I go meet up with some of the QBs who are out here, so I’m just staying very active, staying anxious for any moment to get back.”
Ursua may get the luxury of working out on the beach, but he made it clear he is more than ready to be back in Seattle with his teammates getting ready for what should be a crucial season for the young receiver.
“It’s tough not having an exact timeline,” Ursua continued. “But in my mind, I just know I’ve got to keep working for any moment, because we might have to return at any time. I’m just excited to get back with everybody.”
Ursua was a seventh round pick by Seattle in 2019, and while he impressed in preseason he spent the majority of the year on the inactive report, only appearing in three games.
He had one catch, an 11-yard gain that nearly went for a touchdown against the 49ers, but otherwise was a non-factor in a crowded receiver room.
Ursua admitted he would have liked to have played more in year one, but acknowledged that his comfort level with the playbook and the team’s comfort in him was a process that took until partway through the season to be completed.
“Where I was comfortable and the coaches and Russ (Wilson) were comfortable with me, that didn’t really come until probably midway through the season,” Ursua continued. “I felt ready at any moment, honestly I felt comfortable if I had to play Week 1, but I think where everyone was on board and was seeing, ‘OK, John is starting to understand his playbook and is starting to get comfortable,’ I think it was probably midway through the season.”
The added comfortability will help, but Ursua will have to fight to earn targets in 2020, now that Seattle added free agent Phillip Dorsett and could add even more bodies during the NFL draft.
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