Reggie Wayne back to strengthen run for Hall

Among veteran WR storylines this offseason, Andre Johnson’s dissatisfaction with his situation in Houston dominated the headlines. But the preseason angle I’ll be keeping an eye on over the next couple weeks is Reggie Wayne’s recovery from his 2013 ACL tear.

Wayne is a key to the chances Indianapolis carries to keep building a team that might be one of the AFC’s best and only competitors to a Denver repeat appearance in the Super Bowl. And getting a couple more solid seasons in could solidify Wayne’s run toward an eventual enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

Prior to getting hurt last year, Wayne had played in every game for 11 straight seasons, along the way putting up numbers that have him eighth all-time in receptions (he’s the active leader now that Tony Gonzalez has retired).

Source: Pro Football Reference

He’s also 11^th in receiving yards (again the active leader) with 13,566 – but with a 1,000 yard season in 2014 would overtake Henry Ellard, Cris Carter and James Lofton – and approach his long-time teammate Marvin Harrison for seventh overall.

Source: Pro Football Reference

I was stunned when I looked to see how high he already ranked in those categories. It’s a testament to his longevity. But while those lofty stats might seem to make Wayne a shoe-in for Hall of Fame honors, I’m not 100 percent sure he’s quite locked up the honor just yet. He’s gone to six Pro Bowls, but he’s only been a 1^st Team All Pro one time in 13 seasons.

He’s also benefited from playing his entire career with Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck during an era in which the passing game – and thus passing stats – have exploded. That is to say sure, Wayne has 13,566 receiving yards, but given the era, is that more impressive than Ellard’s 13,777 or Lofton’s 14,004? Lofton is in the Hall, but not many out there suggest Ellard will ever make it to Canton without buying a ticket.

Wayne also played most of it with Marvin Harrison, who clearly was first fiddle, at least during the early years of Wayne’s career.

Wayne also is only 23^rd overall right now in TDs, with 80. He trails Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Gates among active players, but can push the top 10 all-time with a dozen more scores in his career. I don’t know if he’s got a single 12 touchdown season left in him, but if he can gut out two more years I can easily see him netting another 12 to 15 scores.

I may be wrong on this. Wayne may already be seen by voters as a lock. But a strong comeback from knee surgery leading to one to three more top-notch seasons and the argument becomes less whether or not he makes it at all and more whether he deserves a first ballot nod.

I’ve always liked Wayne. He’s kept himself out of trouble and he has always seemed to be there for a clutch catch when needed. When Harrison retired, he stepped up and showed he could handle the Batman role. It’d be great to see him cap his career with a bang and not a whimper.

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