By Lisa Zimmerman, Player Engagement Insider
Hugh Thornton may be down, but he is far from out. The Indianapolis Colts guard was placed on injured reserve just prior to the start of the 2016 season. This was a case of truly adding insult to injury because it was his second go-round in less than a year. In December, after starting 12 games in 2015, Thornton was placed on IR following an ankle injury, which required surgery. Unfortunately, in spite of his intense rehabilitation during the offseason, Thornton aggravated the ankle during training camp and is now sidelined for the year.
While frustrated, Thornton is continuing to stay positive and place the majority of his efforts toward healing and the right health and wellness regimen to get him there. During the off-season, along with his continued rehab, he had committed himself to a new conditioning program, much of which involved an evolution of his nutrition and workout and he is remaining on that road.
“It was just about having a healthy lifestyle,” Thornton said. “I made sure I was eating breakfast, lunch and dinner and so I was maintaining my energy throughout the day. Sometimes the fatigue outweighs that [and you don’t eat].”
Playing a position like offensive line that requires being a larger size creates a balancing act. Losing too much weight can be as problematic for a lineman as gaining too much. There are also other elements that factor in for long-term health.
“Being big has its benefits,” said Thornton who is 6’3” and plays at around 310 lbs. “But it also has its downside because there is more pressure on your joints.”
As his career progresses, and especially as he battles back from his injury, Thornton is always attentive to the best ways that will positively affect his health and hopefully the longevity of his NFL career, whether that is related to nutrition or a workout program.
“I feel like each year you play in the league you pick up different habits and tendencies to prolong your career. There’re good programs and some that aren’t so great and it’s up to you pick up the right combinations.”
In spite of the double whammy of back-to-back years on injured reserve, Thornton is focused only on getting back on the field and moving forward.
“For me the goal hasn’t changed,” he said. “The goal is to start and play more years in this league. I don’t think I’m done or even toward the end of my career. I use that to fuel me. I put in a lot of work but now I have that much more time to get even better.
“It’s always been one foot in front of the other. Each day, you never know what the weather’s going to be but it doesn’t matter because you’ve got to keep moving forward and things will all right.”
Lisa Zimmerman is a long-time NFL writer and reporter. She was the Jets correspondent for CBSSports.com, SportsNet New York’s TheJetsBlog.com and Sirius NFL Radio. She has also written for NFL.com.