From the offseason to the early parts of the 2024 campaign, one constant question came up for the Seattle Seahawks regarding their offensive line: When will right tackle Abraham Lucas play again?
After a strong rookie season in 2022, the former WSU Cougars standout was limited to just six games last year by a knee injury. He underwent surgery in January to repair the issue, then a long, tough recovery process to get himself back on the field.
The wait was long, but Lucas finally made his return to game action Sunday for the Seahawks.
The third-year right tackle joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Monday for a conversation about his first game in almost a year.
“There’s usually some nerves and some butterflies that come with it,” Lucas said of his return. “I mean, I think that’s pretty typical for most folks, but I was prepared, (as) prepared as I could be over these last couple weeks. I was confident going back out and I was really just excited to be back out there doing the thing.”
Lucas, an Everett native, played the majority of Sunday’s game at right tackle. Rookie Michael Jerrell came in to spell him on the second drives of the first and second halves to ease his return, which was a part of the plan coming into the game. He was in on 42 (70%) of the team’s 60 offensive snaps.
“There was a plan and the plan was followed pretty much to the letter,” Lucas said. “… I can’t speak on it too much, but it’s more of a pitch-count type of deal and that’s all I’ll say about it. But they had a plan, we executed it and it was expected that it was going to go that way.”
Lucas said he was sore after his first game back, but nothing unusual for someone returning from an extended time off due to injury.
“This sort of thing is expected,” he said. “It’s not anything out of the blue or out of the ordinary, so just continuing to move forward in that regard.”
He acknowledged that his injury, which has never been fully disclosed to the public, is one he’ll have have to continue to work through.
“I’m not at risk for getting injured again. It’s just something I have to continue to recover and rehab from,” Lucas said. “I don’t think a lot of people realize a lot of muscle injuries or tendon injuries, whatever it may be, they take a lot of time to heal. And sometimes for somebody who’s not in sports, the best recovery is to really not do anything. I can’t really afford that. I have to heal and continue to strength train and then football train and all that stuff, so it takes a little bit of time just to reacclimate everything.