NFL teams
Matthew Coller, Special to ESPN 7y

Laquon Treadwell working on technique; hoping to stay healthy

Laquon Treadwell can’t change the results of his rookie season, but he can learn from them.

The Minnesota Vikings' 2016 first-round pick caught just one pass and played only 80 offensive snaps in his first NFL season. Since his disappointing debut, Treadwell has spent the offseason improving his route-running technique.

“I was always more talented than everyone or just had more will to win. I guess I got away with a lot of things,” Treadwell said Tuesday. “Here guys are just as talented and want to win just as bad as you. I just have taken the time to really focus on my technique. My talent is showing with the technique now, so I’m on the uprise.”

The former Ole Miss standout said he has been learning the details of route running from the team’s top two receivers.

“When it's time to win at certain points in my route, I didn’t have the formula,” Treadwell said. “Watching [Stefon] Diggs and [Adam] Thielen, they were very technically sound and that’s why they were able to beat guys consistently and they know how to win.”

While technique is Treadwell’s focus, health has also been an issue. He missed the final three games of last season after suffering an injury on the opening kickoff of Minnesota’s Week 14 matchup against Jacksonville.

This year, the 22-year-old receiver has been out for a large portion of training camp with a hamstring injury suffered on July 31. Treadwell was present for Tuesday’s practice, but took a limited number of snaps during the offense-vs.-defense portions.

“Unfortunately I went down right before the pads, so I’m trying to show it in pads now and build trust and confidence with the quarterbacks,” Treadwell said.

When he has been healthy, the Vikings have shown trust in their former first-round pick, exclusively playing him with the first team in practice.

“The biggest thing with Laquon is that he needs to continue to build confidence in himself,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. “If he drops a ball, he’s gotta forget about it and move on to the next play and go make a play. With him it’s just making plays and not being so hard on himself.”

Treadwell did not play in the Vikings’ preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. He said his goal is to suit up on Friday against the Seattle Seahawks.

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