August 1, 2017

Notebook: Chad Owens is raring to go

After a lengthy delay, the Flyin’ Hawaiian is preparing for takeoff.

Receiver-returner Chad Owens, who started the CFL regular season on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ six-game injured list, practised with the team Tuesday at Mosaic Stadium. It was the first time since early in training camp that the 35-year-old product of Honolulu had been on the field with the Roughriders.

“I’ve been itching at this for six weeks,” Owens said. “It’s good to be back out there getting back into the routine. Coming in here (to the locker room), going to meetings, preparing for practice, getting taped up, getting the jersey on — that’s what we love to do.”

The Roughriders signed Owens to a free-agent pact on Feb. 15, hopeful that he could still produce as their primary returner.

But the foot injury that caused Owens to miss the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ final six regular-season games in 2016 hadn’t healed properly by the time Saskatchewan opened training camp in Saskatoon. As a result, Owens’ participation in camp was limited.

The Roughriders placed Owens on the six-game injured list prior to the regular season and he has been there ever since. Saskatchewan is to play its sixth game of the regular season Saturday against the host B.C. Lions, so Owens is eligible to practise this week before potentially being activated after the game.

Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones said Owens will do drills this week before getting more involved in practice next week. Saskatchewan has a bye after playing host to the Lions on Aug. 13, so the Roughriders may opt to rest Owens until they return from the bye.

“He seemed like he’s putting his foot on the ground pretty good and he’s setting his weight down on it,” Jones said. “He’s not 100 per cent, but it looks like the old Chad.”

One of the CFL’s most dynamic players during his days with the Toronto Argonauts, Owens hasn’t played a full season since 2012 due to injuries. Having to sit out most of training camp as well as the first five games of the 2017 regular season frustrated the former CFL MOP.

“This is what we sacrifice so much for, for the game to play,” Owens said. “The hardest part is not not playing, but not being able to help my teammates and not being able to go to war with them.

“The off-season is a grind and your reward is to be able to compete with your brothers.”

Owens tried to take on a mentoring role while he wasn’t playing, sharing his knowledge with the players who replaced him. Now, however, he’s hoping to give up that role and take on a more active one.

“(The foot) felt pretty good today,” he said. “I’d say it was a win for the first day back for me. I’m just going to take that and build on it.”

•••

Quinn van Gylswyk is about to get his chance.

The 26-year-old product of Victoria is slated to handle the Roughriders’ placekicking duties during Saturday’s game in Vancouver. He’ll replace Tyler Crapigna, who suffered a leg injury during Saturday’s 38-27 victory over the visiting Argonauts.

“We’ve spent a lot of time working with Quinn,” Jones said. “We have him charted since early in the year and all through camp, from the right hash, from the left hash and from different yard markers. We know who he is.”

Van Gylswyk is 1-for-3 on field-goal tries in his career, having kicked a 54-yarder in the one regular-season game he played in 2016. He also connected on his only convert attempt in that contest.

Crapigna, who was 13-for-15 on field-goal attempts and 13-for-13 on convert tries this season, suffered a pulled leg muscle during the game against Toronto.

Jones said Tuesday that Crapigna’s injury is why the Roughriders opted to try a two-point convert after their final touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Asked if Crapigna’s injury could be a long-term thing, Jones replied: “We’ll see. We’ll play it safe and just see what it is.” 

In fact, the Roughriders placed Crapigna on the six-game injured list Tuesday. He was joined there by linebacker Glenn Love, who suffered an undisclosed injury against Toronto. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Ese Mrabure was removed from the six-game list.

•••

The Roughriders announced Tuesday that national fullback Aaron Milton had reported to the team.

Milton, 24, signed as a free agent with Saskatchewan on Feb. 15 after spending the previous three seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos. But the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder announced his retirement May 27, just before the Roughriders opened training camp.

“He had some situations with his family earlier this year,” Jones said. “He got those straight and his agent reached out to us.”

Milton has one carry for four yards and two special-teams tackles in 14 career CFL games.

•••

Saskatchewan also announced Tuesday the addition of international linebacker Will Ratelle to the practice roster and the release of international linebacker Jarell Boyd-Ross.

Ratelle, a 24-year-old product of Edina, Minn., had NFL stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs over the past two seasons before signing with Saskatchewan.

The 6-foot-0, 250-pounder played 40 games (with 23 starts) over five seasons at the University of North Dakota. He had 226 defensive tackles, 20 tackles for losses, six sacks and an interception during his career at UND.

Boyd-Ross spent two weeks on the Roughriders’ practice roster before being released.