With the 2017 NFL season starting next week, NFL football betting is picking up with fans trying to find the best week 1 betting picks. The Washington Redskins, who finished 2016 7-9, are hoping to make the playoffs this year, and spent the offseason improving their defense.
One of the players the Redskins are hoping can make a difference this season, is linebacker Junior Galette, who has seen his last two seasons ended before they started thanks to two ACL injuries he suffered in 2015 and 2016.
After spending the past two seasons rehabbing from the ACL injuries, Galette was excited to get back on the field this year, but a hamstring injury suffered in training camp, prevented him from playing in the first two preseason games.
Last week, Galette played his first NFL game in over two years in the team’s 23-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
After the game, Galette said it was an amazing experience. Even though he is a veteran, Galette enjoyed going through the motions, getting on the bus, the pregame meal, and all the other game-time routines. Galette said it felt like he never left.
Galette reflected on the things he missed the most, which he said were the little things like wearing headphones while warming up on the field, and being around his teammates on game day. Galette finished the game with two tackles and a quarterback hit in three quarters.
While the numbers didn’t pop out, it was a good day for a man that hadn’t seen any game action in over two years. Head coach Jay Gruden said Galette looked a little tight, but it was good to see the linebacker getting into the mix.
Galette received a lot of compliments from his teammates after the game, but said he was frustrated because the hamstring injury limited his mobility, preventing him from responding the way he normally would.
Despite the compliments, Galette said he told his teammates that what they saw isn’t close to how he plays the game. He said he couldn’t bend the corner as fast as he wanted to, and also couldn’t plant his foot because of the hamstring.
He still wants to prove that he is a great pass rusher, but doesn’t think he will be able to until the hamstring injury heals.
While he isn’t pleased with his performance against the Bengals, Galette isn’t too worried because he knows he will eventually return to form. At 29-years-old, the linebacker is still in his prime. The ACL injuries he suffered are also a thing of the past because his knees feel great.
Galette said even though he is thinking about it mentally, he he’s almost where he wants to be and credits his coaches for not rushing him back until he was ready. Galette plans to bring energy and passion on the field every time his out there to reward his coaches for their patience in him.
Gruden said the staff will continue monitoring Galette’s progress, but they have seen enough of him and will likely hold him out of the final preseason game to give him more time to rest the hamstring. Once the season starts, expect to see much more of Galette.