Ryan Broyles, who is coming off ACL surgery, was inactive in Sunday’s opening win against the Vikings.

It took some by surprise.

The second-year wide receiver started training camp impressively and didn’t miss a snap. It didn’t last for the wide receiver who is coming off his second anterior cruciate ligament surgery in two years. He started to feel soreness so was then put on a program where he would have automatic days off from practice. He played in preseason games two and three.

“He’s making up a lot of time, he’s not at the same spot a lot of those other guys were that went through every play at training camp,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said Monday. “He’s probably a little ahead of where he was last year at this time. He’s still working his way back.

“He’ll be a contributor to us it’s not a matter of if, it’s when. He makes a little more progress each time he goes on the practice field,’’ Schwartz said.

Last year Broyles played in the final three preseason games, then missed the first two regular season games. His first catch was in his fourth game on Oct. 22. 

Actually he had three catches that night at Chicago including his first touchdown.

Broyles tore his ACL in his right knee on Dec. 2 and underwent surgery on Dec. 6. He had the same procedure on his left knee after his senior season at Oklahoma.

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