Rams WR Stedman Bailey said he feels like he has a chance to return to playing football and continue his NFL career, despite being shot twine in the head last year.
“I definitely feel like I have a chance to step back on the field and be able to continue playing football,” Bailey said, via the Associated Press.
Earlier in the week, the Rams waived Bailey with the injury designation, and he was later placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Bailey has been helping the Rams during OTAs in a “de facto” coaching role and working with the team’s receivers. Overall, Bailey appears to be in good spirits.
“It’s been pretty tough, but I’m still here,” Bailey said. “Still could be a whole lot worse for me. I could not be standing here right now. I’m feeling good. I’ve got my health. I’ve got my family. My mind is good. Physically, I feel great. I’m just taking it for what it is. Every day I feel better.”
Bailey added that he still needs to give his body time to heal before seriously considering a return.
“I’ve always been a guy to kind of be able to avoid hits,” Bailey said. “But I know sometimes things happen, and it’s not really in my best interest to be taking some hard hits right now. I’ve still got to let my skull and let my brain heal up a little bit.”
Rams HC Jeff Fisher said that they don’t have a timetable for Bailey being able to play football again.
Bailey, 25, is a former third-round pick of the Rams back in 2013. He has one year remaining on his four-year, $2.736 million contract that included a $527,400 signing bonus. He stands to make a base salary of $690,123 in 2016.
In 2015, Bailey caught 12 passes for 182 yards receiving and one touchdown over the course of eight games for the Rams.
We’ll have more regarding Bailey and his future in the NFL as the news is available.
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