June 28, 2017

Notebook: Kevin Glenn gets his legs under him

Kevin Glenn turned back the clock the other day.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback rushed five times in his CFL team’s 17-16 loss to the host Montreal Alouettes on Thursday — the most carries he has had in a game since Sept. 11, 2009.

For Glenn, the fact he rushed more times than he had in a game in eight years was shocking.

“It is a surprise — but I didn’t even think I ran five times the other night! That’s a surprise too,” the 17-year veteran said with a chuckle. “I know I can do it. It’s just one of those things that maybe I don’t do enough for it to be on people’s minds.”

Glenn’s career high for carries in a game is seven, set Sept. 18, 2004 (when he rushed for 45 yards) and matched on July 8, 2006 (when he gained 40 yards).

The 38-year-old quarterback gained 16 yards against the Als, skittering out of trouble as things opened up in front of him.

“I don’t know what it was; I guess it was moreso opportunities,” Glenn said. “I’m not a guy who goes out and says, ‘If this happens, I’m going to run.’ It’s more of a reaction to me.

“If it happens, it happens. It’s not the first thing on my mind. The first thing on my mind is to get the ball to the guys who make plays. Then, if I can’t, that’s when the process goes to what’s open — and if it’s the run, it’s the run.”

The CFL is loaded with quarterbacks who are more athletic than Glenn at this point in his career. Many of those pivots won’t stand in the pocket and go through their progressions, opting to run after their first or second reads instead of looking to their third or fourth like Glenn tries to do.

“I know my boundaries,” he said. “I know what I need to do in order to be successful.”

•••

Rob Bagg’s status for Saturday’s home opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers remains unknown.

The Roughriders receiver, who missed the game in Montreal with an ankle injury, was on the field for practice Tuesday and Wednesday. But Bagg was shadowing other receivers as opposed to running with the first-team offence.

Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones said he was “optimistic” that Bagg would make his season debut Saturday. The 32-year-old receiver hopes he can play — and not just because the Roughriders are officially opening Mosaic Stadium on Canada Day.

“I want to play in every game,” Bagg said. “I missed enough time with my knees a couple of years ago that I definitely appreciate every game.

“Obviously, this one is unique in that we’re opening a brand-new stadium, but I can’t necessarily let that override the fact that it’s still only Week 2. Emotionally, I want to be out there regardless, but the coaching staff is doing a good job of making sure that I’ll play when I’m ready.”

•••

With Bagg out of the lineup in Montreal, Nic Demski had a career game with seven receptions and 87 yards receiving.

On Wednesday, Bagg said he knew Demski would have a big game as soon as he made his first catch because his confidence would soar. The two men also had prepared together for the game, so Bagg expected his younger teammate to have a good showing.

What Bagg didn’t expect was the reaction some people had to Demski’s performance.

Some suggested that Demski should start ahead of Bagg — a question that was asked on Twitter by, among others, former Roughriders offensive lineman Belton Johnson. That prompted Bagg to tweet to Johnson: “Miss one game and now I can’t play anymore…..appreciate it.”

“If anyone other than a former teammate had written that, I would have never replied,” Bagg explained. “I just thought there was a little bit of a code among teammates, so that kind of pissed me off a little bit.

“By no means did it take away from how much I enjoy playing for Nic and watching him do his thing; it had nothing to do with him. It was just interesting how (Johnson) prefaced it so early that all of a sudden, I’m not good enough.

“It’s nothing new. (I’m an) undrafted player. It’s just more (fuel) to the tank.”

•••

The Roughriders announced Wednesday that they had added international receiver Joseph Morgan to the practice roster.

A 29-year-old product of Canton, Ohio, Morgan played 21 regular-season games with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints between 2012 and 2015. He caught 14 passes for 471 yards and three touchdowns and rushed twice for 68 yards with the Saints.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder also had a stint with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Toronto Argonauts in October of 2016. He remained on the Argos’ practice roster for the remainder of the season.

Morgan also can return punts and kickoffs, so he could be activated for Saturday’s game to help out in that area.