Tyler Lockett suffered a gruesome leg injury in Week 16, but the Seattle Seahawks receiver believes he'll come back even stronger in 2017.
"Folks ask me about the surgery, and the surgery wasn't hard at all," Lockett told KIRO-AM's Gee Scott in a phone conversation. "I mean, I feel like the majority of the time when you get surgery on something, you're 10 times stronger after. At least that's how I feel. I feel my leg will be 10 times stronger."
The speedy wideout and return man suffered a broken fibula. He's been rehabbing in Seattle.
After the season, coach Pete Carroll said he expected Lockett to be ready for Week 1 of the 2017 season, a sentiment the receiver reiterated to Scott.
"Oh yeah, for sure I will. I can't wait, either," he said when asked if he will be ready for the season. "That's why I'm doing everything they tell me to do."
In 15 games, including nine starts, Lockett compiled 597 receiving yards on 41 catches and one touchdown grab, along with six carries for 114 yards and one rushing score. The speedster also handled punt and kick return duties, compiling three total returns of 40-plus yards.
The Seahawks missed Lockett's speed on the outside in their playoff loss to the high-flying Atlanta Falcons. If he's ready to go Week 1 -- at any strength, let alone "10 times" better -- Seattle will benefit from his top-end speed helping to open up the offense.