Justin Willis: BACK AT IT

[PonyPride]

Welcome sight

For the second time since injuring his leg during spring workouts, WR Justin Willis was back out on the field, running pass patterns with the offense in 7-on-7 drills. His first time running routes with his teammates came last Thursday.

Willis didn't seem to be in pain, and moved well, whether the ball was thrown his way or not. He seemed to change direction fairly well, and appeared to move equally well in both directions.

After practice, Willis said he wasn't surprised that he's already back doing drills, and said he was pleased not only with his ability to work out, but with the absence of pain the next day.

"I feel great," Willis said. "I'm doing a lot of running. I did a lot Thursday, and I really pushed myself, because I knew I'd have the weekend to rest. I really wanted to test it, and I felt no pain at all. There was a little stiffness, but no pain.

"Well, there was a little pain, but it wasn't where the bone broke — it was up in the calf, where I'm still trying to rebuild my strength. I'm just going to take it slow, so I'm ready for two-a-days."

While his teammates have been working out on the field, Willis has been training under the supervision of trainers, mixing running with work on the elliptical machine and a stationary bike.

"I've got to push myself," Willis said. "(The trainer) knows I can endure a lot, and I know that the only way I'm going to be ready for the season is to go through some pain now."

In addition to the running, elliptical and stationary bike work, Willis has done everything he can to accelerate his return to the field.

"I told (the doctors), 'if you can get the bone to heal, I can do the rest," as far as healing the muscles and ligaments," Willis said. "When I'm at home watching TV, I'm always using the Thera-Band (a rubber band used for resistance training) on it, and I do a lot of ice and stretching."

Willis also said that another new level of workout progress increased his enthusiasm.

"I'm even more excited today because I jumped rope yesterday," he said. "I mean, I was jumping rope already, but yesterday I started doing more things, like double jumps and jumping on one leg. It's getting stronger."

[ThadFilms]

Thanks for the report, Pride! Really like how Willis came on at the end of last season when we were without Sanders and Aldrick. Hope he heals up and continues to contribute.

[Corso]

I agree, he really started to look like a receiver late last year. Here's hoping his leg allows him to regain that form, and get even better.

[Buddha]

Thanks for the update, and for all you guys do.