Another comeback in the works for Wyoming QB Sean Chambers
LARAMIE, Wyo. (BVM) 鈥� Before the 2020 season had even begun, it was over for Wyoming quarterback Sean Chambers. Three plays into the Cowboys鈥� first game, an injury to his left fibula sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Wyoming went on to fall to Nevada in that game in overtime, 37-34, without its starter.
Chambers missed the remainder of the eight-game shortened season and instead had to root for his team from the bench, something that he has never enjoyed.
鈥淚 will always cheer for my team, but I want to be out there playing,鈥� Chambers said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the competitiveness in me.鈥�
Being on the sideline isn鈥檛 a new circumstance for the quarterback as he has missed games every season since 2018, his true freshman season. He鈥檚 dealt with a broken fibula and torn ligaments in his knee since coming to Wyoming.
When the latest injury occurred, Chambers knew something was wrong. The pain and feeling of the fracture were very similar to the past break of his fibula.
鈥淚 knew I wouldn鈥檛 be able to put any weight on it, so I just didn鈥檛 get up,鈥� he said.
He was carted off the field in Reno, Nevada on Oct. 26. But February brought more hope for the quarterback when he was cleared for some on-field activities and had begun practicing with the team again.
鈥淭he [rehabilitation] process is almost over, and I can鈥檛 wait,鈥� Chambers said.
Chambers has been running and lifting with his teammates since spring practices have begun.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my first spring practicing here [in Laramie], and it鈥檚 an amazing feeling to be back out there,鈥� Chambers said.
The journey back from the injury wasn鈥檛 all sunshine and rainbows for Chambers. He believed that this was one of the hardest processes he鈥檚 been through.
鈥淚t put me into a really dark place, not being able to play at all or be there for my team,鈥� Chambers recalled. 鈥淢y roommates, family and teammates really helped me get through it all, pulling me out of the dark spot in my life.鈥�
While being a tough experience for the 6-foot-3 QB, it wasn鈥檛 like he hadn鈥檛 gone through struggles before.
鈥淚鈥檝e faced adversity before, so it鈥檚 not like I鈥檓 new to this,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat really helped me this time was just thinking about how it was another chapter in my life and I had to face this adversity.鈥�
On the bright side, the injury occurred during the COVID-19 shortened season of 2020. The eligibility rules for the season are very different.
According to the NCAA board of directors, they extended the eligibility of all student-athletes in the seasons that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This means the season can鈥檛 be counted against Chambers despite already using his redshirt in 2018.
鈥淚 never thought of it in terms of my eligibility,鈥� Chambers said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice thing that I didn鈥檛 lose out on a year, but I just wanted to be out there playing with my teammates.鈥�
Having three straight seasons where he has missed games due to injury, Chambers had a plan heading into the 2020 season and that hasn鈥檛 changed.
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鈥淚 already planned on avoiding hits, getting out of bounds and sliding down,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to continue to try and go forward with that plan.鈥�
Wyoming injuries weren鈥檛 exclusive to Chambers this past season as backup quarterback Levi Williams also missed plays. The Cowboys hope that won鈥檛 be a recurring problem for their quarterbacks during the 2021 season.
鈥淲e just need to play smart and avoid the hits,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 guess passing more could help that,鈥� Chambers added chuckling.
The 2021 season schedule was announced for the Cowboys with their first game to be held Sept. 4 as Montana State comes to Laramie. That date can鈥檛 come fast enough for Chambers.
鈥淚鈥檓 so excited for the season to start, so excited I can鈥檛 sleep sometimes if I鈥檓 thinking about it,鈥� Chambers said. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 been able to play a true season since 2019 and I just want to be back out there.鈥�
Chambers also hopes that the 2021 season will be back to normal, especially in Laramie.
鈥淚 want to be back in the War [Memorial Stadium], I want to hear the fans and play in front of them again,鈥� he said.
For Chambers, the injury and process of rehab have been a ride he wishes he could鈥檝e avoided, but it has given him a new appreciation for the sport.
鈥淚 appreciate every game and every play,鈥� Chambers said. 鈥淵ou never know when it鈥檒l be your last play.鈥�
