RICHMOND, Va. — Terrelle Pryor stood near the practice field here, just moments after the second joint practice between the Jets and Redskins and pondered how unlikely it was for him to be able to run around and make one-handed catches in practice.
“It’s a miracle,” said Pryor, who signed with the Jets this spring.
A year ago, Pryor was on these fields doing amazing things for the Redskins, whom he joined as a free agent in 2017. But he tore three ligaments in his ankle and foot in his first game with Washington last year and never recovered. He tried to play through the injury until undergoing surgery in November. He finished with just 20 catches for 240 yards and a touchdown last year.
On Monday, Pryor revealed he broke his ankle in May during offseason workouts with the Jets. Previously, Jets coach Todd Bowles had only said that Pryor had surgery to clean up his ankle and the injury was related to last year’s. Pryor did not practice this spring but returned to practice fully last week.
“Right now, I’m just chasing perfection of my craft and trying to get back to where I know I should be,” Pryor said. “I’m still trying to get healthy. I had two surgeries in eight months so it’s a blessing that I’m even on the field, being able to compete, making plays. That’s a blessing.”
Pryor said he won’t play Thursday in the preseason game against the Redskins. The Jets are limiting him to about 10 team reps per practice, Pryor said. Pryor also said he is dealing with a minor hip injury.
Even in limited action, Pryor has made an impression. He made another beautiful one-handed catch in Monday’s practice, first tipping the ball to himself. On his first day of full practice last week, he made the catch of training camp when he leaped high in the air and snagged a touchdown pass with one hand.
“We know he’s a freakish athlete,” Bowles said. “He’s just coming back. We’re just taking it easy with him. Expectation No. 1 is to just get healthy. When he gets healthy and we see him at full tilt, then we’ll see what he can do fully. He’s a freakish athlete, he has great hands, he has great size. From playing against him in Cleveland, we know he can play. We just have to make sure we monitor him the right way.”
Pryor was asked if he wants to play at some point in the preseason.
“Hell yeah,” he said. “You always want to get out there and play and continue to work on your craft. My biggest thing last year was every time I caught a ball and I got wrapped by my ankle, re-tweaking it. Every time I took a step, it was painful. I want to make sure that in the preseason or whenever it is, if that happens I can be confident in it. That’s the biggest thing. It’s big that I can be able to play in a preseason game. It’s huge for me.”
The Jets signed Pryor to a one year, $4.5 million deal in March. He could be the athletic, large receiver that the Jets need, particularly in the red zone. But he knows he has to get on the field first.
“I have to hit a preseason game, definitely, just to get out there,” Pryor said. “I want to show the coaches, and the coaches want to see how I fit in with the team. Obviously, practice shows a lot. I want to get out there in front of the fans. I want to get out there and make a play so I can hear some people roar. That’s something that’s special to me and that’s something I want to do. I know I can make those plays and I will. I’m happy as hell that I’m healthy. I’m able to walk. I don’t have to worry about pain in my foot and pain in my ankle. I beat two surgeries, man. I’m here. I thank God.”
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