GREEN BAY Will Blackmon was in the Green Bay Packers weight room Tuesday when Cullen Jenkins started giving him a hard time about being injury-prone.

And if that was coming from one of his teammates, imagine how many times Blackmon has been made aware of his reputation

One thing you cant be is sensitive to what anybody says, even if theyre joking, Blackmon said Wednesday during an appearance on Green and Gold Today on ESPNMilwaukee.com. (For the entire interview, click here.)

I hear injury prone, this-that-and-the-third, but its funny. These arent injuries where its a hamstring pull and I cant go, or muscle soreness. Im breaking bones over here.

And tearing ligaments. As he enters 2010 after four largely injury-plagued NFL seasons he had his rookie season of 2006 derailed by a broken foot and his 2007 season ended by a broken rib after starting it with a broken thumb the 25-year-old Blackmon is on the mend after his 2009 season ended with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Oct. 5 at Minnesota.

Theres no denying how unlucky Blackmon has been. He has played in just 32 games and missed 35, including three playoff games since joining the team as a fourth-round pick out of Boston College in 2006. Whats been particularly frustrating for Blackmon is that he was durable in college, playing in 48 of a possible 50 games for the Eagles as a wide receiver, cornerback and returner.

A restricted free agent this offseason under the altered free-agent rules of the collective bargaining agreement, Blackmon received an original-round tender but wasnt disappointed because he saw it as an opportunity to prove himself once and for all.

I thank God, I thank the Packers organization that Im still here, Blackmon said. Last year was just a funny year for me in general. Being that there was a possibility I may have been unrestricted, I tensed up, I got too stressed out, and I kind of got out of myself, which trickles down and kind of leads to a bunch of stuff. The injury, thats just the nature of the game. Things happen. The great thing about that is, Ive always dealt with a lot of adversity, and Im past it now. Everythings gravy now.

Theres no question about what Blackmon is capable of when healthy. In 2008, his only full season, Blackmon returned two punts for touchdowns, led the team in special-teams tackles and saw extended action in the teams nickel and dime defenses while playing in all 16 games.

When Will is back there, hes definitely a threat, no question about that, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said at the NFL Meetings in March. I think hes probably more natural as a punt returner, but we did a number of different things on kickoff return than we have in the past, and he adjusted nicely to it until (he got hurt in) the Minnesota game. Id like to have more consistency, but its like anything else, its availability. If you have one guy doing it all the time, theres a reason why hes back there because of his talent level and ability. But were going to be better from a consistency standpoint.

The Packers obviously believe they can count on Blackmon both as a returner and in the secondary, given that they didnt add a cornerback during the NFL Draft in April and havent added anyone with significant return experience, either.

Im at the point where, Im only going to control what I can control, Blackmon said. (I figured), if they did bring in a corner, good for them. That corner still has to compete to make the team, and unfortunately for him, Im one of the people he has to compete against.


Blackmon said he wont participate in organized team activity practices, which begin next week, or in the mandatory minicamp, which kicks off June 21. Instead, the Packers medical staff wants him to wait until training camp to return to action, even though his rehabilitation progress has been nothing short of remarkable.

Rehab-wise, Im doing way better than I thought I was, Blackmon said. Typically this injury is a nine-month recovery; I think Im about 6 months out and Im already running full-speed, Im doing change-of-direction, so Im probably 85, 90 percent right now.

I think the plan is to target training camp so I can go in there fresh ... continue to make it stronger so I can go into training camp 100 percent.

Blackmons rehab began in January at the Sport Science Lab in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., where he was able to make quick gains because hed regained full range of motion in the knee before the Packers season ended. He returned to Green Bay for the start of offseason workouts in mid-March.

I just stayed positive and real aggressive, Blackmon said. I definitely think thats why Im ahead of schedule with my recovery.

Although missing so many games has been difficult for him, Blackmon said he has actually learned a lot from his time on the sideline.

I tell you what, there is nothing that can prepare you for an ACL tear. Thats the beast of them all, Blackmon said. But things happen for a reason, and I would say my time being on the sidelines, I was able to become more of a student of the game.

I had all the ability physically coming out of college I was playing five positions (on offense, defense and special teams), but my thing was, I was pretty good at several positions, but I didnt really master anything from the knowledge aspect. So to sit back and to watch Charles (Woodson), to watch Nick (Colins), to see how they prepare and stuff like that (was valuable). That was definitely a huge negative in my aspect of the game preparation. So I definitely matured as a student of the game.

And now hes ready to make the most of what might be his last chance.

Its all in my own hands. I get on my knees everyday and I pray to the man upstairs that he has a plan for me, Blackmon said. I have a lot of support from my family and the whole Packer Nation. I hear from all my followers on Twitter (@willblackmon27) who cant wait for me to come back, and thats a huge motivation.

I just want to be on the field. I can say that, (On defense) I want to do this, on special teams I want to do that. But the bottom line (is), if Im on the field, Im 100 percent, I know I can make stuff happen. But thats the bottom line: Just be on the field.

When Will is back there, hes definitely a threat, no question about that, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said at the NFL Meetings in March. I think hes probably more natural as a punt returner, but we did a number of different things on kickoff return than we have in the past, and he adjusted nicely to it until (he got hurt in) the Minnesota game. Id like to have more consistency, but its like anything else, its availability. If you have one guy doing it all the time, theres a reason why hes back there because of his talent level and ability. But were going to be better from a consistency standpoint.