Trevor Hagan/CFL.ca
EDMONTON — After missing almost the entire first half of the 2018 season, Adam Konar is more than ready to make his return to the field this week.
“Especially with how long it was too,” Konar told members of the media after practice on Tuesday when asked if Week 1’s contest against the Bombers felt like an eternity ago.
“It felt like it was three games in one. It does feel like it was super long ago so it’s awesome to be back out here now.”
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Both Konar and Mulumba-Tshimanga will return to the field this week against the Als (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The 24-year-old Canadian linebacker was hurt during the Eskimos 33-30 victory over Winnipeg back in June – the same contest that took just shy of six hours to complete. Before his injury in that game, Konar tallied two defensive tackles and a sack.
He returned to practice this week after the Esks activated him from the six-game injured list on Tuesday, ready to get back into action against the Montreal Alouettes.
“It feels just awesome to be back out here with the team,” said Konar. “I mean, watching them from inside the locker room for six weeks kind of gets a little bit irritating.”
On Tuesday, the Eskimos also activated another linebacker with a national passport, Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga. With both Canadians back in the mix, it not only adds two stellar defenders, it also gives Esks head coach Jason Maas flexibility with the ratio to start another American player somewhere else on the roster.
With the release of Canadian Sam Giguere this week, that could mean another American may start at receiver on Saturday.
“It’s the way we envisioned our roster being set, is with those guys playing, and to have them both back is huge,” Maas told the media after Tuesday’s practice. “I’d like to hope they get better as the week goes on, knock the rust off a bit and play the way we envisioned playing at the beginning of the year.”
Konar had a breakout season in 2017, his third year with the club, and was re-signed to a two-year deal after briefly testing the free agency market this off-season. He played in 12 games last season, collecting 59 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, one sack, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Mulumba-Tshimanga played six games this season – he missed Weeks 8 and 9 – and has amassed 22 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles and two sacks.
Despite missing so much time, Konar doesn’t think it’ll take him long at all to shake the rust.
“I don’t think it’ll take too long,” he admitted. “I’ve been playing football my whole life and obviously I’ve had my fair share of injuries as well. I’ve been able to bounce back fairly quickly from each one and I feel confident in my abilities that I’ll be able to do the same for this one as well.”
The Eskimos host the Alouettes on Saturday night with kickoff slated for 9:00 p.m. ET.
