‘If I can play, I’m playing’: Troy WR Chris Lewis

Pete Thamel, ESPNMar 12, 2024, 01:00 PM ET As Troy wide receiver Chris Lewis took 735 receiving lawns last season and emerged as one of the nation’s leaders in touchdown catches (10 ), something scolded at his left leg.He told Troy’s trainers the first few weeks of the season that he had tightness behind his knee. As the season went on, it took a while to get loose, and he eventually sought out the team physician since he had a hard time to flex it.He eventually postponed getting an MRI until the season ended, since he didn’t want a hamstring injury or fluid build-up to end his season prematurely. After Troy’s victory in the Sun Belt title game, Lewis got the MRI, where doctors discovered a mass behind his left knee.After additional scans, physicians eventually detected Lewis with osteosarcoma, with the mass behind his knee being identified as an aggressive malignant bone growth in his left femur.”I was simply lost,” he stated.

“How did that happen? I was lost for words. It was a great deal of concerns.” Lewis is now deep into a 10-week chemotherapy treatment that is attempting to decrease the possibility of the cancer spreading and possibly shrink the growth. He’s been getting his chemotherapy at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, not far from where he’s from in Pleasant Grove, Alabama.He’s scheduled for surgical treatment– the scope of which he will not understand up until another set of scans later on this month– on April 3. The result of those scans will figure out much of what his ability to play again looks like.”They did inform me that the growth wasn’t connected to the bone,”Lewis told ESPN.”They informed me it was

the very best news possible.” Courtesy Troy sports Lewis set up a GoFundMe today to help with his expenditures. It is hallmarked by an image of him snaring a one-handed pass against Kansas State, and he’s intending to raise$150,000 to help with the expenditures associated with his cancer treatments.After surgical treatment, another grueling round of chemotherapy waits for. Lewis said he hasn’t lost much weight, as he remains about 200 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame. Lewis did say that he has currently lost his hair, picking to shave his head when the hair around his dreadlocks began falling out and leaving bald spots.Lewis is identified enough to dress that he played in Troy’s Birmingham Bowl game against Duke, which took place after his diagnosis and was authorized by doctors because it positioned no additional

danger. While Lewis’possible return will depend on his upcoming scans and surgical treatment, he is figured out to go back to the field for Troy. “If I can play, I’m playing,”he said.”It simply really depends on what type of recovery I have and for how long that I have to recover before the season. If they clear me right before the season, I might remain so my body can be in the

finest condition. If I have some months to train and get my body prepared, I’ll be out there. “Lewis is Troy’s leading returning receiver and among its best players, as he had a banner season in 2023 after moving from Kentucky. He averaged 23.0 lawns per catch on his 32 receptions, and his 10 touchdown captures connected for the lead in the Sun Belt and ranked him amongst the country’s leaders.He likewise led Troy in highlight-reel catches, as he showed an affinity for one-handed grabs and standout uses his method to landing a third-team All-Sun Belt area. Lewis ‘three-touchdown efficiency versus South Alabama this year earned him the No. 1 and No. 2 areas on the “SportsCenter”Top

10 for his acrobatic catches. He ended up that night with four catches for 120 yards.We take a short break from the 2024 NFL Draft to share that Troy WR Chris Lewis formally has my attention for a future draft These catches versus Kansas State were ridiculous pic.twitter.com/d8SxaMIlkL!.?.!— Field Yates (@FieldYates )January 22, 2024 Lewis said he accomplished all that without having the ability to run complete speed this past season, as he struggled sometimes to bend his left knee and stated he could not plant and drive off his left leg. He stated enjoying his tape from the season has actually helped him in recent weeks.”It’s been a substantial inspiration for me, simply returning and looking what I did this season and me knowing I wasn’t at my full capability,”he stated.”Me seeing that makes me want to go back out there and show everybody what I can do at 100 %.”I really could not get in and out of paths. I wasn’t able to run full speed. Being 100%and showing everyone what I can do at 100 %, that’s my biggest inspiration. “The news of Lewis’diagnosis emerged the very same week that previous Troy coach Jon Sumrall left to take the Tulane job.

Lewis credits the Troy personnel for remaining in touch and supporting him, consisting of Dr. Jeff Dugas, the medical director and group orthopedic cosmetic surgeon at Troy.< img height=" 320"width ="570 "src= "https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39715121/

“/ > Courtesy Troy sports New Troy coach Gerad Parker has gone to Lewis three times given that taking the task in late December. Wide receiver coach Gary Banks, a holdover from Sumrall’s personnel, has actually been in touch regularly, and Lewis lauded his constant communication and support.They all see someone enduring difficulty with a positive attitude.”The chemotherapy has actually clearly made him ill and physically ill, which drags the energy out of you,”Dugas stated.

“However he constantly responds to the phone and appreciates.” In the past 2 weeks, Parker attended to Lewis’medical diagnosis with the team and let the players understand Lewis is going to be going through a scan and surgical treatment in the coming weeks that loom as considerable.”This is going to get quite genuine for him and us,

“Parker said. “I simply wanted to have an intimate discussion so everybody understood.”Sumrall hired Lewis twice– at first to Kentucky as an assistant there and after that to Troy. He’s familiar with Lewis’determination and determination.” If anyone can do it, it will be Chris, “he said of a return to the field.”He’s enormously clever, hard and a competitive, gritty kid.” Lewis is appreciative of all the support he has actually gotten from Troy.”My colleagues and coaches

have been calling and texting and looking into me,” he stated. “When I’m at Children’s, they’ve been coming and sitting with me. They have actually been supportive throughout this process. I miss out on being [at Troy]; I simply miss out on being around the group and the routine schedule I have actually been accustomed to.

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