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05-08-2003, 08:34 PM
FOXBORO - When it came to the struggles of the Patriots' receiving corps in 2002, no factor may have been more important than injuries.
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The Pats can only hope things will be different in 2003, although last weekend's rookie minicamp was not exactly a step in the right direction.
Both second-round pick Bethel Johnson and rookie free agent Chas Gessner went down with leg injuries during the first practice session on Friday morning.
Johnson is said to have ``tweaked'' an Achilles tendon. That sounds scary, but the injury is not thought to be serious.
Johnson also had injury problems at Texas A&M, as he missed all but two games his junior year after suffering a ruptured spleen. Johnson returned to play 12 games last year as a senior.
Prior to pulling up on Friday, Johnson showed some of the blazing speed and quickness that led coach Bill Belichick to call him one of the fastest players in the draft. And it was a disappointment that he wasn't able to participate in more passing drills over the weekend.
Johnson's next chance to impress the coaches will be at the team's passing camp starting May 19.
Gessner, who went undrafted out of Brown, looked like an interesting prospect as he showed good movement and hands for a ``size'' receiver (6-foot-4, 214 pounds). But Gessner's hamstring tightened up on a play that also claimed cornerback Asante Samuel, a sixth-round pick.
http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/patriots/pnot05072003.htm
Somebody's Got
To Say It
The Herald's fearless news coverage consistently gives readers the story behind the story.
Get Home Delivery
Access Columnists
Subscribe to eEdition
The Pats can only hope things will be different in 2003, although last weekend's rookie minicamp was not exactly a step in the right direction.
Both second-round pick Bethel Johnson and rookie free agent Chas Gessner went down with leg injuries during the first practice session on Friday morning.
Johnson is said to have ``tweaked'' an Achilles tendon. That sounds scary, but the injury is not thought to be serious.
Johnson also had injury problems at Texas A&M, as he missed all but two games his junior year after suffering a ruptured spleen. Johnson returned to play 12 games last year as a senior.
Prior to pulling up on Friday, Johnson showed some of the blazing speed and quickness that led coach Bill Belichick to call him one of the fastest players in the draft. And it was a disappointment that he wasn't able to participate in more passing drills over the weekend.
Johnson's next chance to impress the coaches will be at the team's passing camp starting May 19.
Gessner, who went undrafted out of Brown, looked like an interesting prospect as he showed good movement and hands for a ``size'' receiver (6-foot-4, 214 pounds). But Gessner's hamstring tightened up on a play that also claimed cornerback Asante Samuel, a sixth-round pick.
http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/patriots/pnot05072003.htm