After early setback, Hamlin back on track for Dallas

Michael Hamlin’s rookie season in the NFL definitely has been filled with many highs and lows, including an early injury that sidelined him for the first part of the regular season.

But that hasn’t stopped the former Lamar and Clemson standout from becoming a regular contributor for the Cowboys, who face the Minnesota Vikings today in an NFC divisional playoff game.

“It was kind of hard (because) you want to be out there,” Hamlin said of his injury this week. “You’ve been waiting your whole life to play, and then you have to watch on the sidelines is tough. But it was just one of those life lessons and your learn from it.”

Hamlin’s roller coaster season began in April when he was taken by the Cowboys, a team he grew up idolizing, in the fifth round of the draft.
Three weeks after being drafted, Hamlin reported to the team’s rookie mini camp. The camp was cut short after heavy winds ripped the roof off the team’s indoor facility as the team was going through seven-on-seven drills.

Twelve people were injured including special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who had neck surgery.

“It was pretty scary and nerve wracking,” Hamlin said. “But everyone came together and helped each other out.”

While he was able to escape harm from that incident, Hamlin wasn’t able to avoid injury during a preseason game against San Francisco.

Hamlin broke his right wrist Aug. 30 while making a tackle on special teams. He originally thought it was just a bone bruise, but quickly realized it was something more when he got to the sidelines.

“I just started getting the hang of things and now I had to sit back and watch,” Hamlin said.

Hamlin, however, wasn’t put on the injured reserved list, which would have ended his season.

“A couple of my teammates were put on IR and I thought that was going to happen to me. But I was fortunate,” Hamlin said “But after it happened, (team president) Steven Jones came to me and said we will keep you on the 53-man roster and for me to keep my head up.”

That’s what Hamlin did following surgery, which required seven screws to be put in his wrist. He began the rehab procedure to get back on the field.
Hamlin said the wrist isn’t 100 percent, and he still plays with a cast. He also said it’s hard for him to carry the ball.

“It’s very awkward but I just do the best I can,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin was with the team during his rehabbing, attending team meetings and on the sideline at home games. The only thing he didn’t do was travel to the away games.

Hamlin finally made his regular season debut Nov. 22 against Washignton and recorded his first career tackle the next week on Thanksgiving against the Raiders.

“I was nervous and scared a little since I already had been hurt,” Hamlin said of his first game. “I had been gone for a while and didn’t know how I would respond. But I had to let it go at full speed.”

And Hamlin has been going full speed, playing on all of the Cowboys’ special team units.

He had two tackles last week in the opening-round playoff win over the Eagles and is hoping for a similar effort today against the Vikings so the Cowboys can continue their march in the playoffs.
“I’m really confident we are on the up and up and we have been successful,” Hamlin said. “You just want to keep going because if you lose you know the season is over.”