After knee injury and lost season, Seahawks’ Paul Richardson looks ready to produce

It had been nearly two years since Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson scored the first and only touchdown of his NFL career. It was December of 2014, when it seemed like he was beginning to emerge after a mostly unproductive start to his rookie season. Then came the bad breaks. He tore his ACL in the playoffs a month later, and once he finally returned midway through last season, a hamstring injury in his first game put him right back on the shelf.

So you could understand why Richardson got lost in the moment Thursday night when he finally found himself back in the end zone. It was merely a preseason game, but that hardly mattered to him given everything he’s gone through.

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“I didn’t even know what I wanted to do,” Richardson said of his reaction after the 9-yard touchdown pass he caught during the second quarter of Seattle’s win over Dallas. “I just kept yelling and screaming. I was so happy.”

Richardson’s touchdown catch was the latest sign that he’s not only completely healthy after back-to-back season-ending injuries but ready to make a significant contribution to Seattle’s offense, something the Seahawks have been waiting for since they drafted him in the second round in 2014.

He had become something of a forgotten man after his lost season last year and with everything that happened elsewhere in Seattle’s wide receiver corps. Doug Baldwin signed a massive contract extension after his career year. Jermaine Kearse came back after it seemed like he was leaving in free agency. Tyler Lockett was coming off an excellent rookie season. Former Huskies Kasen Williams and Kevin Smith had stepped in late in the season. Seattle drafted Kenny Lawler in the seventh round.

And then there was Richardson, who in his only game last year pulled a hamstring while making a 40-yard reception. He suffered a setback in his recovery, leading the Seahawks to put him on Injured Reserve after determining that he’d be out too long.

Richardson is now healthy and has somewhat quietly been one of the most impressive players in practice since the start of training camp.

“It’s been great. I think the coaching staff has been doing a great job of slowly working me in and just gaining the trust back from my teammates,” he said. “I just want them to see me in practice making plays and seeing that I can do those things that I was brought here to do. I like vibing with them and I like the responses that I’m getting back. I just want to continue to do right to help us.”

Richardson has always been known for his speed. Asked early in training camp about that speed,  Baldwin said it’s actually “overstated” in a way. It wasn’t that he was questioning it. After all, Richardson’s time of 4.40 in the 40-yard dash was tied for third-best among receivers at the 2014 scouting combine, and coach Pete Carroll has said that he’s still as fast as ever after a pair of leg injuries.

Baldwin’s point was that Richardson’s speed, for all the attention it gets, is just one part of his game.

“Yes, he is an extremely fast football player, but he is also a very good wide receiver in general,” Baldwin said, noting Richardson’s route running and how he can make plays on not just the deep routes but the underneath ones as well.

Like he did Thursday. Richardson was lined up on the right side and weaved his way through traffic while running towards the left corner of the end zone. Russell Wilson delivered a perfect throw and Richardson caught it over his shoulder, with cornerback Morris Claiborne draped all over him.

He had another catch for 10 yards Thursday.

“He’s had really good progress all the way throughout,” Carroll said. “He had his best week in preparation, caught some big balls in practice and came out and played like it. It was a great catch for the touchdown – great throw and catch – but really nice execution. Just great to see him part of the group.”

After everything he went through in his first two years in the NFL – tearing his ACL again after doing so in college then suffering another season-ending injury – Richardson is thrilled to be where he is.

“I’m just appreciative. I’m blessed,” he said. “I’m so blessed to be in this position right now after my second ACL surgery. I’m excited. I’m happy.”