Browns Jakeem Grant Sr. Opens Up About Recovery from Ruptured Achilles'
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"It's my Achilles, there's no doubt it's my Achilles," Jakeem Grant Sr. told trainers after falling to the ground in pain.
The Cleveland Browns were doing one-on-one drills during the second week of open training camp practices prior to the start of the 2022 season when Grant went down with what appeared to be some sort of non-contact leg injury.
"It felt like I got kicked in the back of my Achilles," Grant recalled. "I've had the feeling before so I knew it."
Grant's journey to the National Football League has not been an easy one. Battling through his second Achilles tear, other injuries during his career and only standing at 5-foot-7, Grant uses his lightning-fast speed to torch defenders on the field.
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross lll holds the fastest 40-yard dash time ever recorded at the NFL Combine after he ran a 4.22 in 2017. However, Grant asserted that in college at Texas Tech, he ran a significantly faster time than 4.22.
"[My] fastest 40-yard dash time ever was 4.10. If you give me the same time to practice for it, I'll do it again," Grant declared.
Grant's quick moves and sudden changes of direction are key to his game but also seemingly make him more prone to devastating injuries, like a torn Achilles tendon.
Seconds after Grant fell to the ground during the training camp session, he knew what the injury was but just wanted to get up. Instead, members of the Browns training staff urged him to stay on the ground and brought the cart out to take Grant back into the facility.
"It sucked just for it to happen again," Grant said. "When I got it repaired the first time, they told me there was like a 1-in-5 percent chance that I could tear it again. I was bummed out about it."
Grant was holding out hope that it would only be a tweak to his Achilles, instead of a tear. Once he got into the training room inside the facility, that's when Grant knew it wasn't just a tweak.
"Anytime you squeeze your calf, you have a little flexion in your foot," Grant explained. "When he [the trainer] squeezed my calf, there was no flexion in my foot."
Once the news was confirmed he did in fact tear his Achilles, Grant began calling the people closest to him to inform them of the devastating news.
"I called my agent," Grant said. "I started making my rounds, I called my mom, the wife, everybody, just to let them know."
Grant initially felt like he was letting everybody around him down by getting injured, even though it was obviously beyond his control.
"After I left the facility, I usually have a good day, get on the [video] game and not think about anything," Grant said. "I just kind of went in my room and just sat in a dark space."
"When that happened, it killed me," Grant said. "Now I have to watch other guys return stuff for a touchdown or call a fair catch where I'm like man, that's easily returnable."
Throughout his recovery process, Grant noted the hurdles he was experiencing in his own head and needed to start talking to somebody about his mental health.
"Now, I have to start all over," Grant explained. "In this league, it's like what have you done for me lately? With that being said, it's like, dang, did they forget about who I am? Did the coaching staff forget about who I am, what I can do for the team, what I can provide for the team? Are they still going to want me on the team? Things like that start to come to fruition and you start thinking and all these negative thoughts start racing through your mind."
While seeing someone for his mental health, Grant came to the realization that he needed to let all of that go.
"Instead of focusing on the negatives, let's think about the positives," Grant continued. "What do you want to do coming back into it? The only thing I could do was attack my rehab process, wait until I get surgery and start talking to them about rehab. That's been my motivation this whole time, just getting back to where I was... and better."
Grant recalled back to a conversation he had with his oldest brother, Markeith Whittaker, that motivated him to keep pushing through the adversity.
"He said it sucks lil' bro," Grant recalling what Whittaker told him. "Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Maybe you can get it healed properly this next go around. He said remember what we always talked about, we always talked about gold jacket. That also put me in a different mindset, put me in that alpha mentality just to continue to attack the rehab."
Whittaker told Grant "gold jacket" every single day.
"That's what keeps me going," Grant said. "The first thing [Whittaker] told me when I first got into the NFL was that your dream has always been to play in the NFL. Now that you made it to the NFL, what's next? He was like if you want to be the best, go chase the gold jacket, be remembered as one of the greatest to ever do it. That's been my whole mindset."
Credit: @nslyessiiir on Instagram
As it pertains to teammate support, Grant said the whole team was bummed out following the season-ending injury. However, he highlighted one specific player who really has helped him throughout his recovery process.
"Chief [David Njoku]," Grant revealed. "Everyday, me and him sat and just talked, not about anything football related. He kept my mind away from the whole football aspect. There was one day where he was like I know you want to be out there as much as possible, just remember this time around next year when you're out there with us and that hunger that has built up."
Grant had high praise for Njoku and mentioned him uplifting his spirits every day. Grant tells Njoku all the time that he doesn't even understand how much his positive attitude helps him mentally.
"He's a great dude," Grant said. "He's an awesome leader and our personalities just mesh really well. With being injured, it definitely brought us closer together. He was making sure my mental health was great."
Grant said this rehab process was far different than his first one. He had to spend around four and a half months on one leg.
"I could only do upper body workouts. I used to tell them I was so tired of this," Grant explained.
Grant remembered going to the facility for rehab and to train with Browns Assistant Athletic Trainer Patrick Rock.
"[Rock] always kept me grounded and not trying to move too fast," Grant said. "On days where I didn't feel like doing anything, he was like, hey man, let's go, we got to get better. He also kept me motivated. I was like hey Pat, what are we doing today? He was like we got a lot of core stuff and hip work. I was like, we aren't doing anything to strengthen my leg?"
It took such a long time for Grant to get to the point where he could even walk in a tennis shoe. He also noted that everyone definitely takes the ability to walk on two legs for granted.
The whole thing has been a super slow process for Grant but he also noted that "it's all faster and speeding up" from here.
"I'm able to jump, cut, run at close to full speed," Grant said. "I just can't imagine how far I've come."
Now, Grant estimated that as far as recovery wise on the Achilles, he's around 85-90 percent.
"I can do everything that I've normally done. They're going to continue to take it slow because there's no rush, season is still some time away. But I can do everything that I used to and that feels awesome."
Grant said he feels like he'll be back to 100% right around the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs), which will begin on May 23 for the Browns. He also emphasized that he's going to continue to take it slow, even when he's first back to 100% healthy for the first time in nearly a year.
Grant answered "absolutely, 100%" when asked if he'll be good to go by the time training camp starts.
Credit: @nslyessiiir on Instagram
This off-season, the Browns parted ways with Mike Priefer and brought in a new special teams coordinator in Bubba Ventrone.
Grant will work extensively with Ventrone to prove himself as a threat in the return game for the Browns.
When asked if he has had the opportunity to pick Ventrone's brain, Grant's face lit up with excitement.
"He's a guru in the special teams and we instantly clicked," Grant said smiling. "The way his energy was whenever he was on the phone was amazing. Me and him sat down and talked for a good 30 minutes about schemes. We left that alone and then talked about who he is as a person and who I am as a person. When you develop that type of bond with a coach, you'll run through a brick wall for him."
Grant is looking forward to finally being able to be back on the field with his teammates in 2023 and will be looking to wreak havoc.
"Man, I am just excited. [Ventrone] is one hell of a special teams coach and I just cannot wait to pick his brain and go take over the special teams."
