Familiar Face: Kamar Jorden takes reps at Stamps practice
CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders took the field for practice on Friday ahead of the Western Semi-Final, and the team had a familiar face join them. Receiver Kamar Jorden took reps with the Calgary offence and could suit up on Sunday for the first time in over a calendar year.
Jorden was injured during last year’s Labour Day Classic against the Edmonton Eskimos when teammate Don Jackson accidentally rolled into his knee during a run play. The receiver dislocated his knee and also tore his ACL, MCL and PCL.
Back on the field for the first time in 15 months was a more-than-encouraging sign for the Stamps and their fans but head coach Dave Dickenson wasn’t ready to cement Jorden’s return to the lineup.
“I think he is a possibility,” Dickenson told a scrum of media Friday afternoon”. “We understand the risks but he has been given the clearance but he is just trying to get himself ready. If Eric (Rogers) isn’t there and Aaron Peck also is fighting a bruised hip, I have to get a squad ready to go and (Kamar is an option).”
RELATED: WESTERN SEMI-FINAL
» Numbers Don’t Lie: 3 stats that will define the Western Semi
» Checking Down: Latest news and notes ahead of the Semis
» Swoop Aerial Report: A deep dive on Sunday’s QBs
» Bo Levi: ‘There is a decent amount of animosity’ with Bombers
Whether he actually suits up on Sunday in the Western Semi-Final or not, Jorden was elated to be back on the field with his teammates after what has been an arduous recovery.
“I’m so happy,” Jorden said with a grin. “I am just so happy to be back on the field. You don’t realize how much you love this game until you go through something like that.
“I feel good. It has been a long, long recovery. Some days have not been as easy as others but right now I am feeling good and feeling strong. I wanted to come out here and really push it.”
The 30-year-old has spent his entire six-year career as a member of the Stamps. In 32 career games, Jorden has 2,254 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 152 catches. Despite the injury at the midway point of last summer, he still set a new career-high in receiving yards with 944 while hauling in 55 balls for six majors.
He received CFL All-Star honours in 2018 and set the team record for receiving yards in a game with 249 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 25, 2018.
Back in September, Jorden was seen doing warmups with his teammates during a practice, but was not in pads. There’s a chance he returns for this game, but the team may take the more patient approach considering the injury he’s coming off of.
The Stampeders will welcome the Bombers to McMahon Stadium for the Western Semi-Final on Sunday. The two teams will kick-off at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Rogers, Law still up in the air for Sunday
While Jorden may be making his way back into the lineup, the same can’t be said for Eric Rogers who was once again not participating in Stamps practice on Friday. Both he and Cordarro Law have been unable to take the field in preparation for the Stamps Western Semi-Final tilt with Winnipeg Sunday.
“If they can play they are going to play,” Dickenson said after practice on Friday. “Eric is really fighting it right now. You do things different in the playoffs — if you need to freeze something, you know, it is one and done. To me, if mentally you can handle it and the doctors give you the go-ahead, guys will play.”
The Stamps are also looking at possibly dressing middle linebacker Cory Greenwood who is trying to make his way back from injury but it is uncertain if he is ready yet.
