Seahawks tight end Will Dissly finds end zone for first time since Achilles injury
Will Dissly had a career day in Phoenix last September.
He hauled in seven catches and the only receiving touchdown of the game from Russell Wilson in the second quarter in that win over the Cardinals when he leaked behind the defense and into the end zone, snared the 9-yard pass from over his right shoulder and tip-toed to make sure he was in bounds. It seemed smooth and easy. He held the football up as he jogged back to his teammates.
It was his team-leading fourth touchdown catch of the season. It was also his last.
Two weeks later, for the second consecutive year, the young Seahawks tight end out of the University of Washington had a promising season cut short. His rookie season in 2018, he was sidelined by a knee injury four games in. Last October in Cleveland, he tore his Achilles.
Since returning to the Seahawks, the 24-year-old has detailed the physical and mental challenges of coming back from devastating injuries in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. He’s been applauded for staying positive.
When Dissly took the podium following Sunday night’s 27-26 win over the Vikings at CenturyLink Field, the comeback finally seemed complete.
More than 12 months after that touchdown catch in Phoenix and 363 days after he was carted off the field in Cleveland, he found himself back in the end zone.
“For me personally, it was really big to solidify the comeback,” Dissly said on a postgame Zoom call with reporters. “Just grateful for all of the hard work.
“Not just myself, but the trainers, the physical therapists, my family, my friends keeping me up. So, this one was special. And we capped it off with a big comeback win.”
Dissly’s 19-yard touchdown catch with 9:55 remaining in the third quarter was Seattle’s first of the game, breaking up a 13-0 lead Minnesota carried into halftime.
He broke outside, beat Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson down the sideline and trotted into the end zone as he corralled the over-the-shoulder basket catch to get the Seahawks on the board.
“My mind is right here in the moment,” Dissly said. “I’m with this team. It’s a brotherhood. It’s a family. So, I was just trying to play for them.”
He paused for a moment at the podium as his teammates pounded in celebration in the distance.
“The boys are excited,” he continued with a smile.
Dissly’s touchdown catch ignited a series during which the Seahawks scored three touchdowns within two minutes to take their first lead. Seattle eventually scratched out the win — opening 5-0 for the first time in franchise history — in the final moments of the fourth quarter.
“When we get in those moments, there’s no flinch,” Dissly said. “We just go out there and execute. One thing 3 (Wilson) always says is believe. That’s all you can do.”
Wilson certainly believes in his third-year tight end and was thrilled to be able to get Dissly — who had the one touchdown catch Sunday and now has eight catches on eight targets for 56 yards this season — involved again.
“Will is one of my best friends,” Wilson said postgame. “I love Will to death. He’s amazing. Just who he is as a person, we’re super tight, and that tight end room is really, really amazing. I think it’s the best tight end room for football.
“And I think Dissly, obviously the tough battles that he’s gone through, he’s kept his faith in God, he’s kept his faith in just the moment. He’s worked so hard. We got to kind of throw together in California this offseason when he was ready to go and just spent quality time together and he’s just such a special guy and special teammate.”
After witnessing what Dissly could do in 10 games in two shortened seasons to open his career — he tallied 31 catches, 418 yards and six touchdowns in 2018 and 2019 — Wilson was glad to see him step up again in a clutch moment.
“It’s good to see Dissly back,” he said.
Fellow tight ends Luke Willson and Jacob Hollister, and Shaqueem Griffin were among the teammates who were in on the celebration with Dissly when he returned to the sideline following his touchdown.
“We play for each other,” Dissly said of the Seahawks’ connection as a team, noting it as one of the reasons Seattle is able to consistently come through in key moments.
“It’s a special thing in the NFL to find that on a team, and we care a lot about each other. We care about the relationships. It means a lot.When the fourth quarter comes on the line, we’re going to show up for each other.”
This story was originally published October 12, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
