INDIANAPOLIS — Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean said he recently started running at full speed, acknowledging that he is still recovering from the broken leg that ended his final season with the Hawkeyes early.
DeJean said Thursday at the NFL combine that he suffered a broken fibula during practice in mid-November and underwent surgery. DeJean missed the Hawkeyes' final four games of the season, including the Big Ten championship game.
Speaking publicly about the injury for the first time and calling it “something strange,” DeJean said he still plans to have an on-campus workout for NFL evaluators before April's draft.
“I've been rehabbing ever since,” DeJean said of the injury. “[I] I started sprinting last week. I plan to work out sometime before the draft. … Am [medically] clear. “I'm making progress right now.”
DeJean, who is the 15th player on Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board, said he will not work out at the combine or at Iowa's pro day, which is scheduled for March 18.
“I'll work sometime before the draft… sometime definitely before the draft, early April,” DeJean said. “I started sprinting last week, so I haven't been able to train like I wanted to.”
The Odebolt, Iowa, native said teams he's met with have said they see him as an option at cornerback, in the slot and even for some snaps at safety. He had seven interceptions in his career and returned three of them for touchdowns.
DeJean also returned 31 punts in his three seasons at Iowa, averaging 13.1 yards per return with one touchdown.
“Being able to play multiple different positions, I think that's an advantage coming into this league, being able to play wherever they put me,” DeJean said. “To be honest, I don't care. I just want to play ball.”
