Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is a self-described "expert" at the rehabilitation process after a knee injury ended his 2012 season and is confident that he'll be able to return better than ever after suffering another season-ending injury in 2013, he told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
Brian Cushing injury: Texans LB vows to ‘rehab harder than ever’
Cushing recovered from an ACL tear in 2012 and says he will use that experience to come back even better after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 7.
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“I will rehab again harder than ever,” Cushing said. “Last year was just the warmup. I’m an expert at the process now.
“I will be back better than ever next year, and that’s a fact.”
Cushing, 26, told reporters that the process of returning from a torn LCL and a broken fibula will require three months of rehab, a fraction of the time necessary to return from an ACL tear. After making his return, Cushing looked every bit like the dominant player he was in the past, recording 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and his first career touchdown in the first seven games of the season.
A first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Cushing was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned a trip Pro Bowl, but has not yet earned a second trip. Regardless, he was the recipient of a seven-year deal worth over $55 million during the 2013 offseason.
The Texans are expected to play with Darryl Sharpton and Joe Mays at inside linebacker with Cushing out for the remainder of the season.
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