McGuire dealt tough injury blow

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Houma native Elijah McGuire’s second NFL season has gotten off on the wrong foot — a broken one.

The former Vandebilt Catholic standout and current second-year player with the New York Jets broke a bone in his foot on Saturday during training camp — an injury which required surgery and will likely sideline him for most of the opening months of the 2018 regular season.


McGuire figured to have a big role in the Jets’ plans in 2018. He was slated to be among the team’s lead backs after veteran Matt Forte retired.

But now, he’s likely to be headed to the injured reserve list where he will be eligible to return later in the season if the injury heals in time for him to return in the final weeks of the season.

“This is a big blow for the Jets,” NFL analyst Ian Rapoport said over the weekend when asked about the McGuire injury. “They had big plans for him and they’re disappointed that this happened. There’s hope that he can come back and get on the field for them later in the season, but they were hoping to feature him over that 16-game workload and try and see what he would be able to do as a playmaker in a rebuilt offense.”


McGuire’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time.

By all accounts from camp, it was becoming his time to shine.

Last year, McGuire was land-locked, playing behind Forte and veteran Bilal Powell, which limited his touches — especially early in the season.


But he still had his moments of prosperity — especially late in the year.

McGuire finsihed the season carrying 88 times for 315 yards and a touchdown.

He was also a gifted receiver out of the backfield for the Jets, catching 17 passes for 177 yards and a score.


McGuire said earlier this offseason that he’d worked tirelessly to get bigger, faster and stronger so that he could evolve into a larger role for a New York team that’s been rebuilding for the past few seasons.

He said earlier in the offseason that he’d learned a lot from Forte and Powell and he wanted to showcase those lessons in his second NFL season — especially after gaining momentum late in his rookie campaign.

“I want to showcase myself and really do what I know that I’m capable of doing,” McGuire said in the offseason. “I’m thankful because I know I’m in a good spot. I know my coaches want what’s best for me and they are providing me with the opportunity to be able to grow in my abilities.”


But that progress is on hold — albeit temporarily after the ailment, which will put McGuire on the shelf temporarily.

In the NFL, a player can be placed on IR-Return Designation, which means they will still be eligible to return in Week 9 if able to play.

Each team possesses two of these spots and it’s likely the Jets will use one on the young halfback if his rehab and recovery are successful.


To offset the loss, the Jets are planning ahead.

They worked out former Pro Bowler Alfred Morris and veteran Orleans Darkwa — two free agents the team could use as a stop-gap to offset the time McGuire is sidelined.

According to ESPN NFL analyst, the injury is severe, but it’s not expected to be season-ending.


REED INKS WITH SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Thibodaux High School graduate Trovon Reed is back with the Legion of Boom.

The former Tigers’ standout and national champion at the University of Auburn announced on social media this past week that he’d signed a camp contract with the Seattle Seahawks — the team he began his NFL career with out of college.


Reed, now 27, has bounced around the NFL in his career.

He’s played for Seattle, as well as cups of tea with the San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

His only live action during the season came in 2016 with San Diego when he enjoyed several quality games for the Chargers.


In that season, Reed played 6 games, recorded 14 tackles and had 2 interceptions.

Last year, he was with the 49ers, but didn’t see live action.

With Seattle, Reed may have a chance to stick.


The Seahawks were once a vaunted defense — a unit which dominated the league for the past half-decade under veteran coach Pete Carroll.

But a lot of the prized standouts from that era are now gone with cornerback Richard Sherman in San Francisco, defensive lineman Michael Bennett in Philadephia and some of the team’s top talent like Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor either aging or in contract disputes with the team.

Carroll said Reed will be given every opportunity to make Seattle’s team, though he will likely have to perform at a high level in training camp and throughout the preseason to make that wish a reality.


ROBINSON LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY WITH BROWNS

Reed’s high school teammate, offensive lineman Greg Robinson, is also looking for a fresh start in the NFL.

Robinson, the former No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, spent several seasons with the Rams before being traded to the Detroit Lions before last season.


Robinson was the team’s left tackle for a lot of the season before being sidelined with an ankle injury.

Last year was the final season of Robinson’s rookie deal, so he signed with the Cleveland Browns in the offseason — a team which will give him a chance to compete for playing time along the squad’s new-look offense.

Elijah McGuire


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