Forrest Lamp's first two seasons have not gone as anticipated.
The Bolts' 2017 second-round pick missed his entire rookie year after suffering an ACL injury early in training camp.
He not only missed the season, but the following offseason as well, not returning to practice until midway through training camp. He only played in the final preseason game, and at that point, the Chargers had already solidified a solid five-man O-Line.
Thus, Lamp spent his second season in a reserve capacity, appearing in only two games. While he yearned to be out there mixing it up with his teammates, the 6-4, 310-pound guard didn't complain. After all, the Bolts were firing on all cylinders throughout the year on their way to a 12-4 record, so he understood why they wouldn't mess with something that's working.
"I wanted to play," he said. "(But) once you have a line that's been playing together since April 16 when OTAs started, they've been together for three or four months, you're not going to break that up.… Everybody wants to play or else you wouldn't be here. So, missing my rookie year and then not really playing this year, even though I was practicing and whatnot, it's hard because you just want to play. That's why you're here."
As tough as the last couple years have been, it's now all in the past.
Lamp is fully focused on the future.
In fact, he has one specific date in mind; the day the Bolts return for the offseason program.
Lamp has yet to take part in a full offseason program, and he's well aware of its importance. His fellow draftee, Mike Williams, is proof positive to how vital it is. The 2017 first-round pick missed extensive time as a rookie leading into the season, and it proved to be a lost year as he was behind the eight ball the rest of the way.
However, fully healthy and with a full offseason under his belt, Williams broke out in a major way.
Thus, it's only natural that Lamp looks to follow in his footsteps.
"I'm excited just to have a full offseason to really train and then get back at it and show what I can do hopefully," he said.
General Manager Tom Telesco said he'll have every chance to do just that.
"He'll be right in the mix next season, I know that," Telesco explained. "As far as evaluating (how he's performed), it's really just watching practice this year. So at least we know he's back on the field, he's healthy and he's playing. That's good to know. He'll have the full offseason this year which he didn't have last year. Last year, he was rehabbing during the offseason program. So, with a full offseason program like in the way that Mike Williams got this past year and a full training camp, he'll be ready to go."
