Bengals' Leon Hall Making Progress In Rehab From Achilles' Injury

by Ryan Harper on Feb 9, 2012 8:01 AM EST

Now that the regular season and playoffs are over it's time to go through the process known as the offseason. It's that time where teams throw money at players to fill some holes on their team either through the draft or free agency. Ironically for the Bengals, they might not have to throw money at a player to improve the secondary.

Cornerback Leon Hall is making significant progress in his rehabilitation from a torn Achilles injury that he suffered during Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. At his current pace he should be ready in August.

Less than three months after surgery Hall is able to run lightly and jump off boxes. Even at his current pace it's assumed that Hall will miss the workouts in May and June, but will be ready when training camp starts. He has been working with rehab guru Nick Cosgray, who has been giving him new tasks to accomplish each week. This week regular treadmill time has been added to the list for Hall's recovery. He's going to remain on the treadmill until July and it's hoped that he will be able to rejoin the team in time for training camp.

As with any injury, there is always doubt as to whether or not players are going to be able to return to their previous level of performance, if at all. Achilles injuries are certainly no exception and they have been notorious for ending an athlete's career.

"Early on I had some doubts. When you think of Achilles, it's a little scary. Especially if this were 10 to 15 years ago, I don't know if I'd be saying the same thing," Hall says.

Hall suffered the injury with less than two minutes remaining in the first half against Pittsburgh. The Bengals secondary took a hit when it was learned that he was out for the season. Due to the departure of Johnathan Joseph and Hall's injury, the lack of depth of the Bengals' secondary was greatly exposed as they had a difficult time containing opposing passing games for the final seven games of the regular season.

If Hall is able to return by training camp, his presence will be a welcomed addition for the Bengals. But only time will tell how much Hall will be able to contribute less than one year after surgery. Hopefully for the Bengals it won't be a repeat of Carson Palmer when he returned from his knee and elbow injuries, as he never looked the same after that game against the Steelers.

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Good news, great to hear he's doing light running already...........

sounds like he’s on track.

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Feb 9, 2012 8:32 AM EST reply actions

See, I know Achilles is a bad injury to have, but

The way rehab programs, medical technology, and the players willl can trump that. The guy will be ready for training camp and I’ve been reading all along that he would be ready for training camp. Tired of this “put him PUP” crap. He’ll be there at training camp playing hard and preparing with everyone else. He may be a little raw at first but that’s what practices are for. Keep working hard Leon. Good to see you’re on pace.

by whodeycommish14 on Feb 9, 2012 9:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions

idk, i would imagine achillies injuries are because of wear and tear

so i would imagine rest would be the best way to make sure it gets healed correctly and we want him full go towards the end of the season and not lose Hall mid season again.

Id rather put him on the PUP and use that extra spot on another position for the first 6 weeks. Id much rather have Hall for a playoff push!

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Feb 9, 2012 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

Thats tempting

I’m hall’s biggest fan, and I would hate to see him go down again but it’s hard not just to start him out at the beginning of the season if he “seems” healthy. I was there when he went down and blame this piece of s#!t steelers fan beside me.. I will forever hate her

Clint R. Boggs

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

good to know

hopefully he’s almost 100% of the player he was before the injury. we’ll have to cross out fingers and wait

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Feb 9, 2012 9:22 AM EST reply actions

why do I have a feeling...

I am going to hear alot of “He just needs more time, next season he will be better” when it comes to Hall. I just do not think he will be back at anything close to pre-achilles injury status. Can anyone point a finger at anyone(outside of a lineman) that has been able to come back from this injury and play at same level again?

"Next season will be better" circa 1990

by Yarin on Feb 9, 2012 9:42 AM EST reply actions

i feel the same way,but Hall at 80% is still better than Pacman

Ive seen a bunch of player’s names that have came back,but no one has yet to mention not even 1 cornerback that ever
made a full recovery

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Feb 9, 2012 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

Don't know that many cornerbacks that have ruptured their Achilles

by Mexal on Feb 9, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

Achilles is a tough injury

He might be 100% healed by training camp and participating but I highly doubt he’ll have the strength in his legs nor the agility he used to have by then. I’m definitely in the camp that thinks he’ll be ineffective should they rush him back. This is not an ACL injury.

by Mexal on Feb 9, 2012 9:48 AM EST reply actions

Agree

Achilles are tough but like he has said medicine over the last 7 years for these injuries have improved and hes still young. One positive of drafting a young corner like Kilpatrick or Jenkins is that they can slowly work him back up to speed instead of having him on the best receiver’s side of the field. This is how he played with Joseph and this will allow the defenses blitz scheme to flourish as well

by Kyleecb1 on Feb 9, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

We have to hope that a rookie CB would be effective. The learning curve for them can be similar to a WRs.

But I understand your point and hope that it works out that way.

by Mexal on Feb 9, 2012 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

Yea but

1rst round draft pick corners over last five years (more good then bad n no SEC corner bad)

The Good: Darrelle Revis (14), Aaron Ross (20), Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, Aquib Talib(20), Vontae Davis(25), Joe Haden (7),
The Ok: Mike Jenkins(25), Kareem Jackson(20), Devin McCourty(27), and Kyle Wilson(29)
The … Lets just say bad: Leodis McKelvin(11) Malcolm Jenkins (14)

by Kyleecb1 on Feb 9, 2012 11:28 AM EST reply actions

texan fans would not list Kareem Jackson as ok

they don’t care for his coverage abilities (or lack thereof)

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Feb 9, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

I would even agree but for a guy that should have stayed in college and didnt deserve to be a first round pick as he is undersized (5’11) I would say he still could be considered good on the #3 pass defense in the league. My point was to show there are loads of good young corners and looking at Kirk he has the size and the speed n playmaking ability to go top 12 he is a steal that we need at 17

by Kyleecb1 on Feb 9, 2012 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

He would be a steal at 17

I really don’t think 5’11 is small for a CB. Actually I’d say it’s average. Hall could play nickel back next season (if he’s healthy enough). That way he’s not on the field every play. Hall is very good against the run and once he went down his absence showed.

by Bigcatdaddy on Feb 9, 2012 12:49 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Hall

We definitely need to draft a CB in the first round in my opinion unless some people fall. You’re right Catdaddy hall is good against the run and is a great tackler. I could see him playing some nickel. But I would think that if he’s playing then he should be healthy enough to go up against the opposing offenses number #1 WR. I just think that Hall is one of the most underrated DB’s in the league. We need him next year to be healthy.

Clint R. Boggs

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

would love to have him at 17

"the bengals are not a west of the 104 longitude team."

by palewook on Feb 9, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

Rookie Corners

I haven’t done any research on Rookie Corners and their production but just from the top of my head it seems that they struggle. I know there are certain positions that are easier to adjust to in the league than others. Please no one mention McCourty I personally think he is trash. He had a lot of picks his rookie year but in reality I think he gets burned a lot. Obviously he was passed on a lot this past year because New England was up 30 points for most of the game and all the teams were playing catch up. Any way go bengals

Clint R. Boggs

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 1:01 PM EST reply actions

I found this interesting research paper

for any of you interested in hall’s Achilles tear. it talks about the road back for an NFL player. The conclusion was that about two thirds of players make it back from the injury and most of those players are sadly never the same. Hopefully for Hall he comes back to the pro bowl caliber player we know him as.
http://www.lowerextremityreview.com/article/return-to-football-after-achilles-tendon-rupture

I love the Bengals more than you love anything in your life

by cincybengals on Feb 9, 2012 1:25 PM EST reply actions