New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - The Advocate Bryce Harris moves past ‘freak’ injury

METAIRIE — However the New Orleans Saints’ 53-man roster shakes out in the coming days, promising second-year offensive tackle Bryce Harris said he will have a job this season in the NFL.

Nine months ago, Harris might not have felt so strongly about his career path after suffering a season-ending injury 12 snaps into his first NFL start, just one week after making a good showing in his pro debut as an in-game replacement for an injured teammate.

Barely 10 minutes into a Week 12 game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Harris’ big break ended in a bad break. San Francisco middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks rolled up Harris’ right leg, breaking the fibula and dislocating the ankle and sending the undrafted rookie free agent from Fresno State into a temporary funk.

“It was a freak thing,’’ Harris said. “I’d gotten rolled up like that 100 times and it never broke, and it just snapped. I’ve had sprained ankles before, but I never missed a game in college or high school. Ever!

“I was miserable. I couldn’t walk for six weeks. My foot was in a boot, and I couldn’t put any weight on it. I sat in a bed every day watching TV at home. Once I started rehab, I got motivated to get back on the field because ultimately this is my dream and my job, so I needed to get back on the field.’’

He paused and smiled.

“Plus,’’ he said, “I’m marrying my high school sweetheart in April, and I got to have a job.’’

Slowly but surely, Harris has moved up the depth chart in training camp and finds himself working at right tackle with the second unit going into Sunday’s exhibition game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

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