BROCK AND SALK

Oft-injured Thurmond hopes to finally make an impact

Jun 5, 2013, 7:07 PM | Updated: Jun 6, 2013, 7:50 am

By Danny O’Neil

RENTON – If he was healthy.

For three years those four words have followed any description of Seahawks cornerback Walter Thurmond, a footnote attached to any description of his potential.

If he was healthy, he would have been at least a second-round pick coming out of Oregon in 2010, maybe even a late first-round choice, but coming off a serious knee injury in which he tore three ligaments as senior, Thurmond was chosen in the fourth.

If he was healthy, he may have won a starting cornerback job for Seattle in 2011. Instead he was slowed by a high ankle sprain in training camp and after an injury to Marcus Trufant opened up a starting job in Week 5, Thurmond suffered a broken leg the next game that ended his season.

tempRM2 6073--nfl mezz 1280 1024
“He’s fighting to play a bunch, not just to be around here,” coach Pete Carroll said of cornerback Walter Thurmond, who’s missed 28 games over his first three seasons. (Rod Mar, Seattle Seahawks)

If he was healthy, Thurmond would have been Seattle’s nickel cornerback a season ago, only he reinjured that leg in the offseason, was not added to the 53-man roster until November and was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury after two games.

And Thurmond could be a factor in the secondary for Seattle this season if he was healthy, and guess what? He is.

“Now he’s right,” coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday. “He’s over that hump and really has prepared himself to have a great camp.”

Now, Thurmond is not some shiny, new offseason acquisition for Seattle so he’s not going to inspire the imagination in the same way as veteran addition Antoine Winfield. Not only that, but he doesn’t play a position of extreme need. The Seahawks’ secondary was already considered one of the best in the league, and that was before signing Winfield, a three-time Pro Bowler in Minnesota.

But don’t go crossing Thurmond off Seattle’s depth chart just yet. The guy who has started four games in three seasons as a Seahawk stands 5 feet 10 with a wingspan as broad as his 6-3 teammate Richard Sherman and an explosiveness that also merits consideration as a punt returner.

“Walter is physically capable of showing off,” Carroll said. “He is a tremendous athlete. He has been in a situation where he has kind of had to hold back a little bit for a long time, and then he’s really able to just go for it now. He’s got extraordinary quickness. He’s a playmaker. He’s fighting to play a bunch, not just to be around here.”

The question of where Thurmond would play seems to be compromised by the offseason addition of Winfield, who was added to a secondary with entrenched starters Brandon Browner and Sherman.

“We preach competition,” Thurmond said. “And from what I’ve been told, three spots are open for competition, the nickel spot and both corner spots. I’m going out there and just worrying about my game and competing for a starting job.”

By the same token, Thurmond is not alone in his aspirations about making an impact in that secondary, and he’s going to have to play his way onto the regular-season roster with Jeremy Lane, Byron Maxwell and veteran Will Blackmon – who was added this offseason – also looking to lock down a spot. Rookie Tharold Simon was drafted in the fifth round, and he’ll also be playing for a spot though he has not practiced recently, resting a foot that has been painful going back more than a year now.

But while injuries have slowed Thurmond’s career, they haven’t shaken his confidence.

“Personally, I feel that I’m an elite player,” Thurmond said. “I just fell short with circumstances playing this brutal game we call football. That is a consequence of playing. Both of my injuries are pretty serious.”

But now, Thurmond says he feels better than he has at any point since returning from the lockout in 2011. Before he suffered that high ankle sprain in training camp, then broke the same leg twice in the span of seven months and finished each of the past two seasons on injured reserve.

Healthy again, Thurmond is reminding everyone the kind of potential he possess if he can stay on the field.

“When he’s playing healthy, it’s just something we got in our back pocket,” safety Earl Thomas said. “If he can stay healthy, we’ll be good.”

Related: Walter Thurmond stands out at Seahawks’ OTA.

Brock and Salk podcast

Brock and Salk

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Jackson Powers-Johnson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profiles: ‘The best center’ in the 2024 class

If the Seattle Seahawks want to boost their offensive line, Brock Huard wouldn't mind if they draft Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson.

10 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Nelson Cruz reflects on his time with the Seattle Mariners on Brock & Salk

‘The Boomstick’ Nelson Cruz joined the Brock & Salk Show on Seattle Sports before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Seattle Mariners 2024 season opener at T-Mobile Park. Cruz discussed his time with the Mariners, what retirement is like, and whether or not he would bring out the boomstick one more time before […]

13 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger...

Mike Salk

Salk: Scars remain as Mariners return, but hope isn’t far away

As the Seattle Mariners return for 2024, Seattle Sports' Mike Salk writes about seasons, scars, frustration, hope and baseball.

1 day ago

Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft Payton Wilson...

Brandon Gustafson

Brock’s Seahawks Draft Profile: ‘Twitched up’ LB fills a need

Next up in Brock Huard's Seattle Seahawks draft profiles is a very intriguing defender in North Carolina State linebacker Payton Wilson.

1 day ago

Seattle Seahawks Sam Howell...

Brandon Gustafson

New Seahawks QB Sam Howell describes trade, his role and more

The Seattle Seahawks have a new QB in Sam Howell, and he joined Brock & Salk on Wednesday to describe the trade that sent him to the Hawks.

2 days ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Getting to know new Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Howell

What do Seattle Seahawks fans need to know about new QB Sam Howell? What will he bring to the QB room and competition this season? He joined the Brock and Salk show toady to talk about what type of QB the Seahawks are getting. Can he be a piece that helps this team get back […]

2 days ago

Oft-injured Thurmond hopes to finally make an impact