Packers' Bostick wants 'more opportunities' to 're-prove' himself after latest injury
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brandon Bostick is trying not to get frustrated. With the way his season has gone, it would be understandable if the Green Bay Packers' young tight end had reached that point many weeks ago.
The latest in Bostick's challenging year is a hip injury that will have him out for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, just one week after he caught his first touchdown -- and only his second pass total -- of the season.
Bostick's injury actually happened on special teams before he caught the touchdown.
"It just got worse as the game went on," he said.
Bostick has heard those who thought he perhaps injured his hip while doing the Lambeau Leap, but it's not true.
"Everybody is saying that," he said. "Nah, I injured it way before that."
Bostick knows his latest setback is a letdown to the team and to the fans. He feels that disappointment within himself, too. Though a Thursday rehabilitation workout proved Bostick wasn't ready to play quite yet, head coach Mike McCarthy described it as "not long term, not a big injury."
That's the good news for Bostick, who could use some of it right about now. He was on his way to being an important part of the Packers' offense this season before he suffered a leg injury in the second preseason game at St. Louis.
When Bostick returned to action one month later, he found his role to be much different. Green Bay had turned to rookie Richard Rodgers and fifth-year tight end Andrew Quarless, leaving Bostick to play only 20 total offensive snaps in the first eight games combined.
When Bostick caught the one-yard touchdown in Week 10, Aaron Rodgers hoped it would be a turning point for the player whose skills resembled those of Jermichael Finley.
"It was nice to get Bostick out there; he's been coming along," Rodgers said at the podium after the Packers' 55-14 win over Chicago. "He had a rough injury after a real good preseason. Brandon did a good job holding onto that football, and we'll look for more ways to get him involved."
That's what Bostick wants, too, but he's not sure -- even if the hip injury had not happened -- whether Green Bay's offense actually will get him more involved in the back half of the season.
"That was just a goal-line package we have," Bostick said. "I would definitely like to get more opportunities."
To go from an average of 2.5 snaps per game and a total of just two catches for three yards to a prominent role in the offense won't be easy for Bostick. That's especially true now as he tries to complete what has become his only goal for the season: "to be healthy and stay healthy."
But once Bostick is medically cleared again, which could come as soon as next week, he plans to show everyone what made him such an exciting prospect heading into this season.
"I just have to re-prove myself to show what I can do and do it at a consistent basis," Bostick said.
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