Makai Lemon’s hamstring issue has eased, but the wider lesson around it still hangs over the Philadelphia Eagles: getting through an NFL season is brutal work, and even a brief setback can force a player into a crash course on how to survive it.
Lemon said the injury that kept him out for half of the team’s OTAs was a real test, according to The Athletic. He missed two weeks of practices and two preseason games, and he made it clear the frustration came with knowing exactly what was limiting him.
“It was definitely tough,” Lemon said. “I’m real competitive.
Ain’t never want to be away from this game. So, me knowing that it’s the hamstring again, I’m just making sure I take the right precautions.
(I’m) learning from it so it doesn’t happen again.”
For Lemon, the response has been about slowing down the process and handling the game the way the NFL demands. He said he’s leaning into the mental side while working back, treating those reps as part of the job.
“You’re supposed to take the mental rep, come out here and bring it to life,” Lemon said. “That’s about being a professional.”
There’s still plenty for him to prove on the field, but offensive coordinator Sean Mannion said Lemon has handled the situation the right way behind the scenes.
“Mentally, he’s been super engaged,” Mannion said. “I don’t worry about that one bit with Makai.
I know the work he’s been putting in. Injuries, unfortunately, they happen in football, but he’s been a total pro about his approach to rehab, his approach to the mental side of the game.
Like I said, the unfortunate nature of football is sometimes you might miss some time. But he’s done everything in his power despite not having those physical reps to be ready for us to make an impact.”
Cornerback Riq Woolen also pointed to the way Lemon has carried himself while working back, saying he has settled into the group and done his part as a teammate.
“He’s been fitting into the culture well,” Woolen said. “He’s a young pro.
He comes in, he works, he does everything he needs to do so he can come back out and be available on the field. All the receivers, they do a great job as well - making sure he’s doing the right thing.”
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