Key Takeaways:
– Tyquan Thornton, a wide receiver of New England Patriots, focuses on muscle-building to curb injury disruptions.
– Thornton has spent considerable time on the injured reserve after fracturing his clavicle and shoulder.
– His training plan aims to increase his weight to 190 pounds from the current weight.
– The Patriots’ wide receiver is taking inspiration from teammate Kendrick Bourne’s training regimen.
– Despite the crowded list of receivers on the Patriots’ roster, Thornton remains valuable due to his game-breaking speed.
– Thornton’s main flaw remains his difficulty in securing catches, a problem which Patriots hopes to rectify.
The Muscle Power Approach
Following a career which has been beset by injuries, Tyquan Thornton, the wide receiver for New England Patriots, has revealed his plan to bounce back stronger in his third year in the NFL. To take more hits and recover, Thornton is focusing on building muscle, particularly in areas most affected by previous injuries.
“Muscle-building is my main focus. I believe gaining muscle in targeted areas will enable me to withstand impacts, as most of my injuries resulted from hitting the ground,” Thornton expressed, as reported by MassLive.com’s Mark Daniels.
The Injury Impact
Debuting in the NFL as the 50th player in the 2022 draft, injuries, specifically a fractured clavicle and a shoulder injury, interrupted the start of Thornton’s professional career. These setbacks, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, have caused the 23-year-old receiver to miss 12 out of 34 potential games. As such, keeping a hold on his position in the team’s heavily fortified receiver depth chart becomes increasingly challenging.
Guided By Teammates
Thornton is committing to add at least five more pounds to his current weight in order to reach his goal of 190 pounds this season. He has been receiving guidance from his teammate, Kendrick Bourne. “Training alongside Kendrick, I got on the program he was on when I visited Portland. He gained 15 pounds of muscle, and I intend to follow his lead,” Thornton disclosed to Daniels.
Despite the crowded field of capable candidates, including Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeMario Douglas, newly-signed K.J. Osborn, and fresh draftees Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, Thornton’s potential role in the team remains significant.
Unleashing Speed and Sturdiness
Recognized for his exceptional speed that changes the pace of the game, Thornton has effectively exploited the field in previous games, noticeably against the Los Angeles Chargers last season as reported by Taylor Kyles of Patriots on CLNS.
However, securing catches remains a challenge for Thornton. He has dropped six passes since turning pro, a few of which were during deep routes that should have ideally suited his playing style. Despite this problem, the Patriots’ team management believes that with further coaching, Thornton can overcome this impairment.
Upcoming quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and rookie Drake Maye will require a fast, resilient player like Thornton to expand the field and make coverage obvious. Gaining muscle for better resilience is just the first step for Thornton, who has a lot more to do to secure his spot in the team.