Ankle surgery has Kelsay ‘brand new’
PITTSFORD — Chris Kelsay always has been obsessed with practice and trying to improve, anything that might help him prepare for an opponent. This training camp is no different, except perhaps he’s more intense than usual, especially coming off such a frustrating season.
“I’ve always been a practice guy,” the Buffalo Bills defensive end said. “I feel that I play better on Sunday when I practice well during the week. Physically, I never even missed a practice up until that point so it was a long season for me.”
Last year, Kelsay had a subpar — by his lofty standards — and injury- marred season. And this was after he signed a deal that reportedly averages about $5.75 million a year, and includes roughly $14 million in guaranteed money.
“The big contract didn’t change anything,” he said. “I am what I am and [the Bills] know what kind of player they’re getting each and every day with me. The fans have been great and they realize this is a game of injuries, that’s the nature of the beast. Our team was stricken with injuries from day one so it wasn’t just myself.”
Kelsay had surgery on his left ankle during the offseason and took full advantage of the offseason workouts.
“I did my normal routine because I had surgery early enough during the offseason where when March came around I was healthy enough to participate in our activities,” he said. “More than anything, it was about staying focused and learning from the experience and realizing how much you appreciate the game once it’s been taken from you.”
Last season Kelsay, 28, expected to build on the solid performance he had in 2006 when he had 5 1/2 sacks, 88 tackles and six tackles for loss, all career highs. But Kelsay suffered a severe ankle sprain against Jacksonville on Nov. 25 and missed the next two games, the first time in his professional career he was forced to the sidelines.
When Kelsay came back the 14th week of the season, he clearly wasn’t the same player. He couldn’t put much heat on the quarterback, a problem that seemed to plague the entire defensive line. Kelsay finished the season with just 2 1/2 sacks , including a half-sack that came in the season finale at Philadelphia.
“When we went to Washington I wasn’t even allowed to travel because of the swelling,” said Kelsay, who was limited in practice the last few weeks of the season. “They didn’t want me flying and they just wanted me to take that week off. I had never missed a practice before so to not be able to travel with the team and being one of our captains was frustrating and hard on me.”
Kelsay has no concerns about the ankle which he says is, “perfect and feels brand new.”
But the question is can he help the Bills improve their pass rush? Buffalo finished with just 26 sacks, 29th in the league.
“We’re counting on him, there’s no doubt about that,” said Bills coach Dick Jauron. “Anytime you get that pressure on both sides and people fear you on both sides you have an advantage.”
Everyone who had at least one sack returns with the exception of free agent Anthony Hargrove, who wasn’t re-signed, and Larry Tripplett, now with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bills drafted rookie Chris Ellis out of Virginia Tech, an all-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection who led the Hokies with 8z sacks.
“We struggled in our pass rush and wasn’t able to put much pressure on the quarterback and that wears on a guy,” Kelsay said. “So we came into training camp with the mentality of working hard improving in the areas we struggled with last year.”
