During training camp, Redskins.com will provide an in-depth look at the drafted rookies, both on and off the field. Today's spotlight is on Josh Doctson, a first-round pick.
Josh Doctson's NFL career thus far has been an exercise in patience.
Since joining the team, Doctson has barely seen the field due to an Achilles injury. With Junior Galette already out for the season with an Achilles injury for the second year in a row, neither Doctson nor the team want to take any chances with the former TCU star's health.
Fortunately, Doctson is joining a team that has established success without him, which alleviates some of the pressure to get on the field.
"I mean they won the division last year without me, so I'm just an addition to the team," Doctson said. "There's no pressure on me at all, I'm just another asset that can come in and help with different situations and downs, so there's not a lot of pressure on me, but like I said, I wanna get back faster than anybody, any fan or any coach wants me to."
Doctson's Achilles required attention after natural wear and tear over the course of his football career began bothering him in the offseason, and he exacerbated the injury during OTAs when he tried to play through the pain. After rushing back too soon, Doctson is determined not to make the same mistake twice.
"It's really not (frustrating), I'm just blessed to be here regardless of the situation," Doctson said. "I'm here, I made it, and I know the type of person I am so I'll make sure I'll get back as fast as I can."
Though coaches do not want to rush Doctson back until he is 100 percent, everybody involved wants him to be 100 percent as soon as possible.
"Be patient, but hurry up," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said. "That's exactly what it is. He's frustrated; he wants to be out there. He's a great competitor. He wants to compete like the rest of the receivers are, but we have to be patient. That's the way it is with these injuries, whether it's hamstring, Achilles, a shoulder, whatever it is. Injuries play a major part in this game. We need him for 16 games. We've got to get him ready and being patient right now is the way to go."
Doctson is eager to begin taking the physical and mental reps that are key to helping him transition to the professional level, but he is also keeping everything in perspective. After he began his football career at TCU as a walk-on and ended as an Associated Press first-team All-American, he knows firsthand the wonders of patience.
"I mean I worked so hard for this," Doctson said. "I'm not going to be frustrated by the injury. Guys on my team are going through worse things, or guys around the league going through being out for years, so this is just a few months. I'm not gonna stress over it."
Major Keys from the Rookies
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Check out images of wide receiver Josh Doctson during his first few months with the Washington Redskins.
Who are you listening to right now?**
"Pretty much anything on the radio, I'm not really picky. I don't listen to country though. Not a big fan of the country songs."
What show do you binge-watch?
"I got stuck on Breaking Bad, that was my show, and The Walking Dead. I think the new season seven is coming out."
Who are your favorite characters?
"Oh, Walter! In the Walking Dead, let me see. I don't know, I like all the characters in the Walking Dead."
How has transitioning to the NFL gone off the field?
"It's been good. My family helped me a lot. We got a Player Development guy, Malcolm Blacken, and helped a lot about where to live and things outside of football and everyday living type of things."
Where did you go to dinner after you asked your Twitter followers for a recommendation?
"I was trying to go to some fish place that someone mentioned. A lot of people were tweeting me about that. I think it was Horace & Dickie's or something? I don't know, but I'm going to try that when I get back."
What was your favorite purchase after signing your contract? "Probably wasn't a purchase, but the deposit. That was my favorite."
