Caught up with receiver Ike Hilliard today for the first time in a while, and he updated us on his comeback from a recent shoulder surgery.

Hilliard underwent a procedure on April 9 to remove bone spurs and repair a damaged bursa sack, and was told it would take some time before he got back on the field. Not for Hilliard.

"My shoulder is doing a lot better now," he said. "I've been cleared (to practice) for about two
weeks. It was supposed to be a six- to
10-week process, but I came back early."

You might remember shoulder pain limited Hilliard late last season, rendering him less than 100 percent for the last several games of the season.

It's too early to say where he'll factor in what should be a competitive battle among the team's receivers in training camp. But despite turning 32 in  April, Hilliard looks and feels good. Regardless of whether he re-claims his starting job or not, his attitude is, and likely will remain, exemplary.

"I just have a few pounds to lose to get back where I want to be before I get to camp," he said. "I feel good. I just have to go out and compete. Nothing's been giving to me. There's competition at flanker. Okay. I'll deal with it. I've been here."