Renton – He’d been away from his team for more than two months rehabilitating on his own after the team put him on season-ending injured reserve with a knee issue.
But after two surgeries in a year, Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones said he still wants to try to get back on the field next season.
It will be up to the Seahawks to give Jones that opportunity.
Jones told reporters on Monday that the Seahawks will decide if he can return for next season, and that decision likely will take place in the next three months.
“I think that’s going to be a decision that the organization is going to have to make when it’s all said and done,” Jones said. “So all I can do (is) prepare myself and try to get ready to get back on the football field.”
Jones had tried to get on the field early this season, but the pain in his knee never subsided. Part of the issue for Jones, who turns 36 this month, is he has a kidney condition that does not allow him to take anti-inflammatory medications, which could help him better deal with the pain in his knee.
However, Jones said on Monday his knee feels fine, and he’s been training for the past two months in Florida for a possible return next season.
“I’m just trying to get back to the old Walt,” Jones said about his training. “I think just dealing with this knee is something that took a while to control. I think getting put on the injured reserve was the best thing at that time. I don’t think it was a situation where I was going to be able to play this year. So I think the decision they made at that time was a good decision for me.”
Seattle has struggled the past two seasons without a healthy Jones. Sixth-year pro Sean Locklear has not maintained the same level of play in filling the shoes of the nine-time Pro Bowl player.
Jones has missed 20 games over the past two seasons, and it was more than just coincidence that Seattle had a 9-23 record for those seasons.
“We have great guys and you want to be a part of that,” Jones said. “So I want to get one last run at this thing and hopefully push myself to the point where I feel good about everything and come back and be consistent.”
Jones helped the Seahawks reach their only Super Bowl after the 2005 season. And before going on the injured reserve list in 2008, Jones had not missed a game since his rookie season, a 10-year run that included 156 consecutive starts.
Asked if he would pursue other options if the Seahawks determine he won’t be ready to go in 2010, Jones said that perhaps he’d be willing to call it a career.
“If it comes down to that, I have had a great career,” he said. “And the reality is that if it’s over, I can accept that.”
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
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