I’m positively sure that I was part of a large group of Lions fans that were ecstatic about the prospect of having the big bruising back out of Illinois, Mikel Leshoure getting ready to bring his package of power and speed to the Detroit Lions backfield.
I admit that initially the draft pick caught me off guard because I wasn’t expecting the Lions to select a running back in the second round of the NFL draft, but I certainly got over the surprise of it all very quickly. I was and still am super-excited about Mikel Leshoure and what he will bring to the table.
I know he had to be truly disappointed to go down with his Achilles tear, so was I and thousands of other Lions fans. I really, really felt bad for the guy because of his great attitude and bubbly personality. The minute I saw his homemade video of the Lions drafting him I was happy to have him in the D.
To top off his exuberance to be with Detroit he went and got a Lions tattoo on his arm to show it loud and proud, even though I’m not big on tattoos for me, I became an even bigger fan of the guy. I remember when players could hardly hide the fact that they really didn’t want to be here and now guys are getting freakin’ tattoos!
But besides his high likeability factor (Sorry Suh), Mikel is a pure runner and a talented back. The guy has shown in college that he can be both thunder and lightning. He’s not some slow plodding big back, this 6’0″ 233 lb guy can get it in gear! He is just what the Lions needed this year! EXACTLY what they desperately needed.
So the question came to my mind today… Will Mikel Leshoure be fully recovered for the 2012/2013 season or will it take 2 years?
I must admit when I first heard about the type of injury I cringed and cringed hard. You never want to hear about your running back get an injured Achilles or knee, but especially an Achilles. Why? I don’t really know though because there isn’t really much history to go back on concerning RBs with Achilles injuries so it’s not like it’s some proven kiss of death for backs.
I found a couple of interesting and encouraging pieces of information though, firstly, the Mayo Clinic says recovery from an Achilles tear to full activity takes 4-6 months although they are obviously talking about full activity for normal people and not world-class athletes it’s still good news. But the second piece of encouraging news is the recovery that Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos had this year, he looked pretty good on that electrifying 80-yard touchdown scamper in overtime against the Steelers didn’t he?
Demaryius Thomas came back from his torn Achilles in the same year that he tore it, he tore it in February of 2011 and was playing an important role for Tim Tebow and the Tebowites(A.K.A Denver Broncos) by mid-season, he played his first game of the season on October 23rd 2012. But then again who knows, he might have been miraculously healed by touching Tim Tebow’s jersey or something. Mikel can’t count on that.
All jokes aside, as a Lions fan I’m truly hoping to see Mikel healthy for his own sake and for the team he has embraced so graciously, I have a feeling Mikel Leshoure is going to be a big fan favorite in Detroit. He certainly has a fan in me, I’m rooting for the big guy and looking forward to seeing him take the NFL by storm!
Mikel LeShoure Highlights
Either way I don’t care, I just would hate for him to become Detroit’s own Tim Tebow as far as hype and unwarranted coverage is concerned.
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