Despite Injury, Cordarrelle Patterson Making The Most Of Likely Last Shot
MANKATO, Minn. (WCCO) -- Obviously, Cordarrelle Patterson did not want to start training camp with an injury.
"Of course, coming into camp, I feel good, felt great in shape, lost a couple pounds," Patterson said. "Come in, the first day you get injured, it's frustrating."
The shoulder injury has kept Patterson out of any full contact practice ever since. It also puts a damper on the momentum Patterson had going for him heading into camp. Mike Zimmer had nothing but praise for Patterson during offseason workouts and mini camp, mentioning his improved route running and strong work ethic after an offseason in which Patterson says he's studied the playbook like he's never studied before and put in a lot of work to improve.
"I'm a receiver, that's what we do. We run routes and catch the ball," Patterson said. "I seen a lot of errors in my game I can fix, so I just took a lot of time out. Going down with Teddy for a week, working out with him every chance I got. I had a trainer I worked with this offseason as well.
"You seen what I can do my rookie year, so I don't think it's a surprise. It's just about the opportunity, getting out there and doing what I was supposed to do. Being in the right place, lining up in the right spot, not running the wrong route."
In the final year of his contract, this is almost certainly Patterson's last shot to get it right. He sounds like a guy who's well aware of that.
"I'd love to stay here in Minnesota. This is where I got drafted at, I wouldn't want to be no other place," Patterson said. "But if things change and it don't happen, I just got to take my talents somewhere else."
