Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) – In Week 7 of last season, Buffalo Bills tight end Tommy Sweeney tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. As things started to improve, Sweeney got a diagnosis of a heart problem that comes with some cases of COVID-19.
Sweeney had a heart condition called myocarditis, so that ended his season before it even started. Sweeney started the season with foot surgery that landed him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
When you’re dealing with that kind of diagnosis, it has to be scary.
“The heart’s obviously a pretty serious thing for us human beings, so yes, it’s alarming," Sweeney said with reporters earlier in the week. "It was a lot at once, talking about that, talking about real life, the season’s over. I thought about the career, but the doctors that I talked to and everybody here was great about it. Obviously it wasn’t a good thing, but they were pretty confident I could comeback after I got through the three month period.”
The tight end is back in training camp and will finally get into a game Friday night as the Bills open the preseason in Detroit against the Lions. Sweeney said he’s back to full speed.
“OTAs was real good to get my feet wet, just to start moving again," Sweeney said. "I stayed here the whole offseason and the strength and conditioning staff was great. So it’s kind of like riding a bike - it took a little bit, but once you’re back into it, you’re back in.”
Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez had the same condition before Sweeney did, and it helped him mentally to know that Rodrigues got back to pitching.
“A guy in the major leagues had it and he was back, so seeing somebody else have it and come back was a good thing," Sweeney said. "There was a point [where I thought my career could be in jeopardy], but it wasn’t a long thought. So I worked real hard at keeping a positive mindset.”
Sweeney played four of the first five games in 2019, but his last game was Dec. 29, 2019 against the New York Jets. In six games as a rookie, the tight end had eight catches for 114 yards. Despite it all, Sweeney doesn’t think he’s behind.
“I don’t feel I’ve taken a step back at all," he said. "I feel like I didn’t play for a year, but I still feel pretty good. It’s definitely a year you never get back, but for the most part, I didn’t lose too much athletically or football wise.”
Sweeney had three month of inactivity. For an athlete, that plays heavy on their mind.
“I learned a lot about myself, and thankfully everybody here was great, my family and trusting God," Sweeney said. "I really learned to stay positive and find different ways to get better.
“I worked with everybody here for the mental side of things to try to stay on top of it. Three months is a long time, but I learned a lot and to keep fighting.”
Speaking of fighting, Sweeney is third on the tight end depth chart behind Dawson Knox and Jacob Hollister. Other tight ends that will be put to the test against the Lions are Bug Howard, Nate Becker and Quintin Morris.
Join Schopp and the Bulldog for the official start of Bills pregame coverage on WGR from 3 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET. Then you will be able to hear the call of the action with John Murphy, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on WGR from Detroit.
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