Bills’ Youboty aims to stay well-healed
There is a lot to like about Ashton Youboty’s game.
Now if he can just stay on the field long enough to show it.
Injuries the last two seasons have prevented the Buffalo Bills’ fourth-year cornerback from reaching his full potential. He has taken the physical setbacks in stride, saying it is part of the game.
But if ever a player could use some good fortune, it’s Youboty. He was limited to 11 games in 2007 with a high ankle sprain and is coming back his year from plantar fasciitis in both feet that ended last season after five games.
“Ashton is a very good football player,” Bills defensive backs coach George Catavolos said. “Unfortunately, he’s had some issues. He hasn’t been on the field for us in a long period of time.”
Fortunately for the Bills, Youboty’s recovery is ahead of schedule. It was believed he wouldn’t be ready to practice until training camp, but he returned to the field for the tail end of organized team activities and is participating in the Bills’ three-day minicamp, which began Tuesday.
“I’m just getting back into it, but it feels good being out there,” Youboty said. “I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m looking forward to being 100 percent.”
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the area supporting the arch and the pain extends to the heel. It’s bad enough to have the injury in one foot. It can be downright debilitating in both feet.
Youboty said his left foot healed with rest, but the right one is still recovering after surgery. Even though he is not limited in workouts, Youboty is being brought along slowly by the Bills.
“We have been bringing him up to speed with 10 reps the first day, then he had 20 and 25 and hopefully he’ll be able to build on each practice,” Catavolos said. “I’m happy to see him out here. He’s a good player when everything is right.”
Everything will have to be right for Youboty this season. With Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin the likely starters, Youboty’s chances of getting playing time on defense will depend on whether he can beat out veteran free agent Drayton Florence and rapidly improving second-year pro Reggie Corner as the team’s nickel corner.
But Youboty can’t be counted out. His place on the roster was in serious question going into training camp last year, and all he did was outplay the competition and open the season as the team’s No. 3 cornerback behind McGee and Jabari Greer.
“I think Ashton is a competitor,” Catavolos said. “You have to figure that you’re going to play four or five corners during the course of the year, so he’ll be in the mix. We know what Ashton can do. There’s no doubt he can play, if he can stay healthy.”
As for Youboty, he’s not lacking in confidence.
“There’s a lot of competition on the team, but I’m not afraid of competition,” he said. “I know what I am capable of. All I can do is play hard and let things fall where they may.”
Youboty has always shown a knack for making plays when he’s been on the field. He was one of the Bills’ top defenders in the first five games last season, racking up 21 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
The Bills can only wonder what he could do if they had him for 16 games. Youboty hopes they find out this season.
“I wouldn’t say [the injuries] have been frustrating,” he said. “Everything happens for a reason, so you have to keep fighting through it. Last year is in the past. I’m looking forward to being 100 percent for training camp so I can hit the ground running.”
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