Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
It’s the little things that mean a lot to Travis Lulay these days. Being able to make small jumps, even skip at times.
“I’ve been more encouraged lately,” the BC Lions quarterback said about his surgically repaired right knee. “Once I got to moving a little bit like an athlete it’s been a nice little mental jolt. I still have a long road ahead.”
When Lulay suffered a devastating, season-ending injury in a game against Montreal back on Sept. 8 there was some speculation it might be the end of his CFL playing career.
Now four months later, with free agency approaching, Lulay’s future is still shrouded in some doubt. If he can get healthy, Lulay wants to play football again this season.
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Travis Lulay sits on the sideline after suffering his knee injury (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)
“I want to,” he said. “Honestly, my biggest priority is healing the right way.
“As I feel a little bit more life in my knee, that desire to play does increase. Just from a pure desire point of view, I would love to play again. But I think I still have to mentally be prepared to what all that entails.”
Ed Hervey, BC’s new general manager, said the Lions would welcome Lulay back, if he’s physically and mentally capable of performing.
“There is no question we would be open to him coming back,” said Hervey. “We want to see where he is health wise. From what I hear of him and know of him, he’s a person that is going to be honest with us. He’s well respected by this organization.
“I would imagine as we get closer to free agency we will be in constant communication as to what it is he wants to do. We’re not even sure if he wants to continue to play yet. We will have an answer prior to free agency. I am pretty confident about that.”
Before he can decide on his future Lulay will need answers to a couple of questions.
First, will his injury mend to the point he can be a productive player?
Second, is the salary the Lions are willing to offer him worth the risk of another injury?
“Maybe my concern is a little bit different than it once was,” said the father of three young girls. “My biggest priority is my family and my health.”
Trainers help Lulay off the field after his injury (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)
Asked if talks have started, Lulay said “there is an open line of communication” with the Lions.
Hervey said in the past he’s had a good working relationship with Dan Vertlieb, Lulay’s agent.
“He and I have always been able to find reasonable ground on deals,” said Hervey. “I don’t foresee there being any issue should Travis choose to want to return and play.
“I believe we will do something that is fair to both sides and allow us to be successful for 2018. It’s about making certain Travis has the time and the space to make his decision and not feel pressured.”
Lulay started the 2017 season as a backup to starter Jonathon Jennings. Any doubts about his abilities were erased when Jennings suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4 against Hamilton. Lulay came off the bench and threw for 436 yards and three touchdowns in a BC victory.
When Jennings struggled in three consecutive losses Lulay was given the start against Montreal but was injured on just the second play from scrimmage.
He finished the year completing 121 of 165 passes for 1,693 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Lulay’s recovery from surgery was hampered by an infection.
“There’s kind of peaks and valleys,” he said. “You plateau for a little bit then you have little breakthroughs. I’m kind of in the midst of a little breakthrough. I’m starting to do more dynamic moves a little bit again.”
“Once I got to moving a little bit like an athlete it’s been a nice little mental jolt. I still have a long road ahead.”
Travis Lulay
Jonathon Jennings comforts Lulay on the sidelines (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)
Even if he does sign a new deal, odds are Lulay won’t be ready for training camp.
“It’s real hard to say where I will be four months from now,” he said. “That’s very quick on the timeline for being ready.
“I don’t want to think myself out of personally healing quickly. Guys have done it in that amount of time. That would be the very front end of the timeline.”
After the 2015 season Lulay could have become a free agent but decided to sign with the Lions with a reduced salary.
In the past negotiations Lulay played with a strong hand. The former CFL most outstanding player had the leverage of talking to other teams who needed a starting quarterback.
This year the deck is stacked against him.
Lulay is 34 years old and has undergone three major surgeries in nine years. If he can’t reach a deal with the Lions he would need a team willing to gamble on a veteran backup with injury issues.
“It’s definitely different and it feels different,” Lulay said about his options.
“I still have a ways to go before I feel good and healthy. The mindset is different. I’m later in my career. Life is all about choice. I’m in control of those decisions I make. In that sense, I feel pretty comfortable where I’m at, even though it’s not perfectly clear what the next phase is. That doesn’t scare me.”
