University of Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins had trained and prepared to workout at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February. Instead, league personnel told him he couldn’t work out after his medical exams revealed a stress fracture in his foot.
Seferian-Jenkins was once again relegated to being a spectator at Washington’s pro day on Wednesday. Following the combine, Seferian-Jenkins had surgery to repair the fracture in his foot and is still recovering.
He said Wednesday he expects to be fully healthy in time of the NFL combine medical re-check on April 26.
Seferian-Jenkins said he was surprised to find out he had a fracture in his foot. He said his foot was sore at times during the season but he never felt it limited him in games or his training.
“It’s never limited me,” Seferian-Jenkins said. “It was just sore. If it had broken it would have been 4-5 months recovery so might as well just get it fixed.”
Seferian-Jenkins admitted it’s been frustrating for him having to be a bystander but said ultimately if having workout numbers was truly that important, he didn’t prove himself during his time at Washington anyway.
“You’re working your tail off for two, three months just grinding away ready for that 40-(yard dash) and then you can’t run it, it’s a little upsetting,” Seferian-Jenkins said. “But it’s a 40-yard dash. If it’s that big of a deal then I didn’t do enough.”
Seferian-Jenkins said one team has already come to town to visit him and he has eight visits scheduled with teams in the coming weeks. He is considered one of the top tight ends in this year’s class along with North Carolina’s Eric Ebron, Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro and Notre Dame’s Troy Niklas.