After setting a career mark of 12 receiving touchdowns which was fourth in the NFL Seattle Seahawks wideout DK Metcalf is looking to improve on last year’s numbers and continue his three-year meteoric rise up the Seahawks receiving chart. His 3,170 career receiving yards ranks him first in franchise history for a player in his first three seasons.
The number one reason for Metcalf’s confidence is not bravado. Metcalf says this is the healthiest he has been since his second year.
INJURY BUT PRODUCTIVE YEAR
“I would say second year, my second year in the league. I know I had a lot of rest this off season to where I could get my foot right and get other things cleaned up to where I wasn’t pressing to try to work out another injury or nagging injury that’s been lingering for a long time. Just getting the foot cleaned up was a big step for me.”
Metcalf played the majority of the 2021 season with a foot injury that was not publicly disclosed until the end of the season. During the season eyebrows were raised each week when Metcalf would miss one day per practice week for maintenance. Players missing one day of practice for “ maintenance has become commonplace in the NFL, so his time off seemed somewhat normal.
ROOKIE SEASON
Drafted in 2019 in the second round and 64th overall Metcalf has played with a chip on his shoulder. What makes his special is that he compares himself to no one.
Metcalf finished his rookie season second among all NFL rookie receivers with 58 receptions and third with 900 receiving yards – both second all-time in Seahawks single-season history by a rookie behind Joey Galloway’s totals in 1995. Started 15 of 16 games played in 2019, in addition to starting both postseason games.
BREAK OUT THE SECOND YEAR
Metcalf started all 16 games played in 2020 and was named second-team AP All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl. Led team while setting a franchise record with 1,303 receiving yards (Steve Largent, 1,287 in 1985). Along with Tyler Lockett, became just the second set of Seahawks teammates to each have 1,000 yards in the same season (Brian Blades, Joey Galloway in 1995).
He tied Lockett for the team lead with 10 touchdowns. Also became the first set of receivers to post 80-plus receptions each in a season in club history and gave Seattle two receivers with 10-plus touchdowns each in a season for the second time in club history (Largent, Daryl Turner in 1984). 2020 is also the season made one of the most iconic nonscoring plays in NFL history.
STALLED CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
Rumors and speculation began to swirl like a hurricane when Metcalf missed training camp and talk of stalled contract negotiations between him and the team. Metcalf was entering the final year of his four-year rookie deal in which he was making $3.986 million per year. Metcalf sat out minicamp and attended the first two days of training camp but did not participate. His sit-in lasted just two days and he agreed to a three-year, $72 million deal that will keep him in Seattle through the 2025 season. With the contract drama behind him Metcalf is set for another big year though it will start without one of his closets friends.
QUARTERBACK CHANGE LOSS OF GOOD FRIEND
The Seahawk’s off-season trade with the Denver Broncos says Metcalf lose a good friend to another NFL squad and set forth the task of having to deal with a new starting quarterback in Geno Smith.
“I think we’re going to be able to tell that on Monday. I think we do have a lot of chemistry just by the reps that we took during practice and during the off-season. Like I said, we’re going to see Monday how the chemistry is, but I think the chemistry is just fine.”
As for what changes he has seen in Geno Smith
“Well, I have just seen the same person ever since I first got here. Russ (Wilson) was here when I first got here so me and Geno (Smith) would have a lot of conversations on the side about the secondary of the opposing team that we were going against. Now that he’s in the driver’s seat, you really get to see him as a mature person and as a mature leader in the quarterback position.
I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people with how mature he is in his decision-making at the quarterback position. It’s fun to see him just step into that role and just take advantage of it.”
While Metcalf will be dealing with a new quarterback in a surreal way, he will also have to deal with the emotions of facing one of his best friends.
“Yeah, because it’s the first game of the season. I think everybody’s going to be emotional, everybody’s going to be jacked up just to get back out there on the field. A lot of people are going to try to bring a lot of drama around this game, but it’s just the Broncos versus the Seahawks on Monday night.”
As for his relationship with Wilson Metcalf pointed out that they are still friends and maintained their close relationship
On Russell Wilson getting traded and his relationship with him now
“Well, I thank him for everything he taught me while he was here, but I know this is a business and it was a business decision on his and the team’s end for him to move on, same with Bobby (Wagner). I still talk to them regularly, probably once a week, but like I said, it’s just a business decision. I took my emotions out of it. We’re still good friends, still brothers at the end of the day.”
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