Redshirt sophomore linebacker Carlos Mendoza, seen practicing during his freshman season, has seen the start of his season delayed by injury but is now back to full speed. (Photo by Edmund Hubbard)In the days following ASU football's win over Colorado, injuries have been a negative headline for the team. Wednesday, the team got good news on the injury front, seeing the return of a player it's been without all season.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Carlos Mendoza returned to full-contact drills Wednesday for the first time since before Camp Tontozona in mid-August. Mendoza wore a brace on his leg but was not wearing the green limited contact jersey he had been wearing in previous outings.
Injuries have altered Mendoza's career during his time at ASU. In 2012, he injured his shoulder in the second game of the season after making seven tackles and intercepting two passes against NAU and Illinois. In 2013, Mendoza played a limited role, making five tackles with three of them coming against Colorado.
Mendoza did not initially think the injury was going to keep him out of game action for an extended time, but it quickly became clear that it was serious.
"I thought it was something like a bone bruise, I didn't really think too much of it, but the next morning it kind of swelled up really bad so that was an indicator that something might be torn," Mendoza said. "It was a meniscus partial tear. It was more flipped up than actually torn, so they just had to put it back down and scrape a little off and I was fine to go."
Mendoza said that he feels fine physically and now needs to get back into the flow of playing at full speed.
"I can just say, from a personal standpoint, my knee and everything feels great," Mendoza said. "From the standpoint of my footwork and my mechanics, I still need to work on those, but I'm sure everyone does."
Mendoza credited the trainers with his recovery and getting his legs stronger after the injury.
"I've been feeling really strong," Mendoza said. "The trainers have been working with me really good, they got my thigh muscles strong and my hamstrings and everything, so it feels really structurally sound and it feels good to play the game."
Mendoza acknowledged that he has things to work on to contribute on the field, but he believes his instincts will help make up for the time away.
"(I need to work on) slowing down my keys and taking my first steps right," Mendoza said. "I need to get more film study in with my linebacking corps, go to see the coach more and everything else will come to me, I'm pretty sure. I have the instincts to play football like all my other teammates do. I'm just happy to be back out here and be able to help my team win."
Mendoza said he is "80 percent" right now and that he will play in ASU's next game on Sep. 25 against UCLA.
2014 season in photos
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Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger
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