As encouraging as it was seeing Makai Lemon finally back on the practice field, what he said after practice was even more encouraging.
He’s not behind at all.
Lemon, the 20th pick in this year’s draft, returned to practice Monday on a full-time basis after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury.
He missed 11 practices and two games, which is a lot for a rookie who’s expected to be a starter.
“Just seeing all the guys out there hooping, you just stand on the sideline, you’re like, ‘Damn, I wish I could be out there with them.’ he said after practice. “But I’m just doing what I can do away from being on the field. And so when I get back out there I’m ready to go.
“I think I was doing a really good job when I’m not out there. So when I got back out here, I wasn’t too far behind with the guys. … Definitely gotta have patience for sure. You can’t rush none. Take it day by day, making sure you’re doing something each day to get better.”
Mental reps are an art form in themselves. It’s not easy to watch other players from the sideline and put yourself in their position and react to the play as if you were on the field. But Lemon said they were key in keeping up while he was sidelined.
And he believes he’s not behind at all despite the extended layoff.
“I feel like you’re just able to see the game from a different perspective, really,” he said. “Taking the mental reps is just as important as being on the field. So (I was) making sure I was doing that over and over again. So when I step on the field I’m ready to go.
“I was super locked in out on the field, and in the playbook.”
Lemon must have done a good job keeping up during his layoff because when he returned for his first practice as a full participant since Aug. 1 he was out there with the 1st-team offense, alongside DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks.
If the Eagles had any concern he wasn’t ready or he had fallen behind, he would not have jumped right from sideline to starter.
“He’s been working his tail off to get back out here,” offensive coordinator Sean Mannion said before practice. “He’s been really, really engaged mentally. That’s the challenge. Any player that you’re injured, you lose those physical reps, but he’s done a really nice job.
“He’s been with A-Mo [wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead] and Grizz (offensive passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard) constantly. He’s been locked in (during) all the walkthroughs.
“Even when he can’t get the rep, he’s kind of shadowing his position on the field and staying super engaged. He’s been working his way back. He’s looked good.”
It’s a little concerning that Lemon has now suffered two hamstring injuries in his right leg before he’s played in a game.
But he said he’s learned from the injuries and the rehab and believes he’ll be able to go 100 percent without getting hurt again.
“It was definitely tough,” he said. “I’m real competitive. I ain’t never want to be away from this game. So me knowing that it was the hamstring again, just making sure I take the right precautions. I’m learning from it so it doesn’t happen again. I think just (making) sure I’m being more professional off the field in all aspects.
“I feel pretty confident just learning from my mistakes from previous times, working with the trainers, setting up a good plan for me. Just being a professional off the field. So as things like this come about I just, I’m ready for everything.”
Lemon didn’t expound on how what those mistakes were or why he feels he’s more professional now than when he first got hurt in the spring. But this is a kid who just turned 22 in June and there’s going to be ups and downs and bumps in the road with any young rookie just finding his way in the NFL.
Remains to be seen if we’ll see Lemon Friday night in the preseason finale against the Bengals at the Linc.
On the one hand, maybe it will help him shake off the rust before the games county. On the other hand, Nick Sirianni never plays offensive starters and it sure looks like Lemon is one now.
“Every time there’s a game you definitely want to play,” said Lemon, the first Eagle to wear No. 9 since Nick Foles and the first WR to wear No. 9 since Billy Walik in 1972. “So I’m just taking it day by day. I definitely want to play (so I’m) out here just putting the work in, and then we’ll see how I feel Friday.”
And can he be 100 percent by the regular-season opener against the Commanders in just 19 days?
“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said.
“The team brought me in here for a reason, so I’m just making sure I’m available. It felt great to get out here with the guys, to run around. I just never take it for granted every time I step on the field. It’s a blessing to play this game.”