Lockwood Hopeful to Return Soon, but will Not Rush Back Until he is Ready
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – There was a familiar face back around the Unleash The Beast locker room Friday night at the Honda Center with two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood in town.
However, Lockwood was only in Anaheim, California, to help with some PR initiatives for the PBR Monster Energy Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, as he continues to work his way back from pelvic surgery.
The simple question Lockwood keeps being asked is, “When are you coming back?”
“No timeline,” Lockwood told PBR.com earlier this week. “I’m going to ride practice bulls here in two weeks, though. I’m ready to go, but I want to ease back into it. I will ride the drop barrel, the bucking machine, ride a horse bareback. I need to build back up my strength, which I knew I would have to.”
While Lockwood has yet to pinpoint a regular-season event in which fans may see him compete, he still says he is committed to returning this season and making a push at winning the 2021 PBR World Finals on Nov. 3-7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I am not a pessimist, but there is no chance for me to win the world title this year, but I can win the World Finals event,” Lockwood said in Nashville last month.
Lockwood has fallen to No. 43 in the world rankings since opting for surgery following the PBR Wrangler Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, in Billings, Montana, on May 15.
The 23-year-old is still just 43.5 points behind No. 35 Kyler Oliver, who is out following reconstructive shoulder surgery. He is confident he would not need many events to get back inside the Top 35 and punch himself a ticket to his sixth consecutive PBR World Finals.
“Even if I make it to just the last two events of the year, that is fine by me,” Lockwood said. “If I come back, I know I can win those two events. As long as I know when I come back, I am capable of winning that event, that is fine.
“I should win it and punch my ticket to the World Finals.”
Lockwood said one big area of focus is regaining his strength before returning to competition. The already lightweight Lockwood dropped to nearly 120 pounds following his surgery, and he is looking to get back up to his ideal riding weight of 129-130 pounds.
“The surgery took a lot out of me,” Lockwood admitted. “I dropped down to 124 pounds. Then I couldn’t do anything for three weeks to a month. But I am going to keep easing back into it. It is a judgment call.”
Lockwood had struggled tremendously in 2021, going 3-for-19 before learning the severity of his injury. It is believed to actually date back to when he sustained his career-threatening torn left hamstring last year, when his spur got caught in his bull rope following his 91.5-point ride on I’m Legit Too in Kansas City, Missouri.
This year, the Volborg, Montana, bull rider bucked off 10 bulls in a row before shutting his first half down for surgery. Lockwood is 7-for-33 on the UTB since returning from his hamstring surgery last September.
Lockwood was disappointed to need another surgery this past spring, but he also admitted there is a relief to knowing his horrific 2021 season was primarily a result of his injury.
Now he is focused on making sure his body is 100% ready for a return before he nods his head aboard the rankest bulls in the world later this year.
“I am going to be smart with it like I always am,” Lockwood said. “I want to make sure when I show up, I still am not knocking the rust off getting on these 45, 46-point bulls. Some would say, why would I come back this year? Well, I love riding bulls, and I love riding rank bulls. Money is money, and riding bulls is fun, so why wouldn’t I come back if I am capable of it?
“I will be back when I am ready.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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