Eifert eager, healthy as camp begins

Tyler Eifert declared himself 100 percent healthy Thursday on the eve of the start of training camp and said it’s the first time since the 2014 OTAs that’s been the case.

Eifert, the team’s first-round pick in 2013, saw his rookie year cut short by a stinger in Week 16, and last year he suffered a labrum injury in OTAs and a season-ending dislocated elbow eight snaps into the season opener.

“I’m just going to go out, play hard and not worry about any of that other stuff,” he said. “I’m happy to be here and look forward to contributing the best way I can this year. There’s only so much you can control. Getting hurt isn’t one of them. How many balls you get thrown at you isn’t one of them either. It’s just go out, work hard and understanding the offense.”

Eifert apparently had a great grasp of the offense before disaster struck in Baltimore last year, catching five passes for three passes for 39 yards despite lasting only eight plays.

"It was a lot of fun, I remember that," he said of the start to the season. "The most catches I'd ever had in a game was five my rookie year. I was like, all right, this is going to be a lot of fun this year, then I didn't make it out of the first quarter. Hopefully that can change that this year.

"I'm looking forward to getting back out there, getting in the grind and seeing what happens," he added.