There was a clear limp, and as practice wore on it got a bit more and more pronounced for Jameis Winston.
But besides that, a prominent surgical scar and a hefty knee brace, the major injury that wiped out the second half of the QB's 2021 season was a thing of the past. But still, he viewed the necessary rehab as a "blessing in disguise," speaking after the team's first OTA session of the offseason.
Why? It's meant he's been able to rebuild his lower body through offseason work, strengthen the muscles in his hip flexors, glutes, quads and hamstrings.
"Just kinda revamping my whole body," he said, "and just making sure everything is tight-knit and ready to go."
The 29-year-old was a full participant in a majority of the drills his team went through on Thursday, the final day of the workout session. It was an appearance that didn't necessarily surprise his coach, though there was still a bit of runway left before the training wheels came fully off.
"I think he's looked good," Allen said. "I think he's made a lot of progress. We've still got a ways to go to get him ready, but we like the progress he's making. We like where he's at and hopefully that will continue."
Winston hasn't left too much of a mystery as far as how hard he's been working, regularly posting rehab videos throughout the offseason even before he'd signed a new deal to return as the unqestioned starter in New Orleans.
It's a leadership role that Winston has, unsurprisingly, embraced in full. Case-in-point, making sure to be in action at the voluntary OTA sessions. Several Saints stars were not in attendance due either to injury or other reasons. That included offensive stars Michael Thomas (rehab) and Alvin Kamara. RB Mark Ingram and TEs Adam Trautman and Taysom Hill were also not in attendance. But Winston will never miss a chance to get in the building and lead his team. Missing out on that was what made the injury most difficult last season, he said.
“I definitely have a certain type of ownership about it," Winston said. "… That’s the beautiful thing about football, every part matters.”
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He said he just started running -- "on the books" -- as of a week ago. He's full-speed on his drops, though he hasn't progressed to rollouts or scrambles. The brace is something he expects to keep on, per doctor's orders, and that's par for the course when it comes to such an injury. And while he says he's been feeling ready to go since month 3 of his recovery, following the protocol is important to make sure he's as healthy as can be when the games start.
The highest hurdle has actually been his meniscus, which he injured along with his MCL and ACL during the Week 8 victory over the Bucs last season. The win in that game, led by Trevor Siemian, made the injury hurt a bit less, he said. But the ACL and MCL were already healing up even prior to surgery.
“I’m healed up. I’m feeling great," Winston said. "And like I said I’m embracing this process and staying faithful to the protocol.”
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The team's second of three OTA sessions will kick off next week. It's probably a safe bet Winston is there leading the way -- and hopefully with a less pronounced limp.