Bengals HC Zac Taylor says CB Chidobe Awuzie is 'built different'
Nearly every projected starter for the Cincinnati Bengals is fully healthy as the team enters Summer break before training camp. And the players who are still working back appear to be on the verge of returning to practice. Chidobe Awuzie showed that doing rehab drills during mandatory minicamp, looking as spry as ever not even […]
Nearly every projected starter for the Cincinnati Bengals is fully healthy as the team enters Summer break before training camp. And the players who are still working back appear to be on the verge of returning to practice.
Chidobe Awuzie showed that doing rehab drills during mandatory minicamp, looking as spry as ever not even eight months removed from tearing his ACL. It's nothing new to his head coach.
"I see the same things you guys do. Chido's built different," Zac Taylor said of his shutdown cornerback from the past two years. "He's done a great job attacking the rehab and doing the things you need to do coming off the injury he had on Halloween."
After missing the second half of the season and playoffs, Awuzie was present at voluntary workouts in late April and has continued progressing during the team's offseason programs.
The visual progress he showed this week makes it hard to deny his availability for the regular season opener, still about three months away.
But projecting return dates for his injured players is something the Bengals' head coach has steered away from in recent years. Optimism in the moment is more than enough.
"That's one thing I've learned in five years, always reserve injury excitement," Taylor said. "And so again, excited to see the continued progress he's making won't make any any rush to judgment on when I think he'll be back."
Awuzie will continue working over the next five weeks before training camp begins in late July. With the way he's advancing through his rehab process, he may even avoid the PUP list to start off camp.
The road back for the 28-year old corner is nearing its end. He's certainly built to complete it ahead of schedule.
Featured image via © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
