Fielding questions from wide-eyed youngsters at his first annual pro camp at Kennedy Catholic High School, it didn’t take long for Tory Horton to be asked why he missed the Seattle Seahawks final 11 games, including the entirety of their Super Bowl run.

“I just had a few things pop up,” Horton responded, assuring the campers in attendance that he would be back and ready to roll for a new season.

For those hoping for a bit more transparency, Horton didn’t have to delve into specifics, especially answering a question from a 10-year-old during a quick Q&A session before campers broke into fun two-hand tap scrimmage games. The Seahawks themselves haven’t offered much in that regard either since the injury occurred, as his status largely remained shrouded in mystery beyond the team’s initial explanation that he had suffered a shin injury during a Week 10 win over the Commanders on Monday Night Football.

At the time, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald hinted that the medical staff initially felt Horton would miss a few weeks of action, hopeful the standout rookie receiver would be able to return later in the schedule even if he spent the minimum four games sidelined on injured reserve. But by the time January rolled around, without anything new being disclosed beyond the shin needing “a long time to heal” and plenty of rest, per Macdonald, the team all but ruled out the possibility he would be activated for the playoffs, ending a once-promising first season after playing in just eight games.