Chad Owens had his doubts.
The Flyin’ Hawaiian had been grounded for the first 17 weeks of the 2017 CFL season, spending the bulk of his time on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ six-game and one-game injured lists. When he finally was activated for a game last week, he was a healthy scratch.
On Friday, the 35-year-old product of Honolulu will dress for the Roughriders’ game against the host Calgary Stampeders. It will be Owens’ first CFL game since Sept. 16, 2016, when he was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats — and it will ease his mind.
“I’m human; you think about things when things aren’t going your way,” the receiver/returner said after Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “But when you face adversity, that’s the chance for you to test your character and see what type of person you are.
“As much as I could, I tried to keep my head down, kept working and tried to stay as positive as I could — and this week is the week. I’m excited to be playing.”
Owens has had a stellar CFL career, winning awards as the East Division’s outstanding special-teams player (2010 and 2011), the league’s top special-teamer (2010) and the league’s most outstanding player (2012).
Best known for his years with the Toronto Argonauts, Owens was on pace for a 1,000-yard receiving season in his first campaign with the Tiger-Cats in 2016. But he suffered a foot injury in Hamilton’s 12th regular-season game and didn’t play again.
The Roughriders signed him as a free agent in February, ostensibly to be their primary returner. But the foot injury flared up in training camp and he started the season on the six-game injured list.
His stay on that list was extended in early August, but the Roughriders removed him from the six-game list early on Aug. 21. Three days later, he was put on the one-game injured list.
On Sept. 1, Owens was returned to the six-game list and he stayed there until Oct. 12. Saskatchewan put him on its 46-man roster for Friday’s game against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks, but he was one of the Roughriders’ two reserves.
However, slotback Naaman Roosevelt suffered a concussion in Friday’s game, opening the door for Owens to get on the roster. He has been working in Roosevelt’s spot with the starting offence during practices and, on Friday, will finally join his teammates in a game.
“It hurts you as a player knowing the type of grind that your teammates go through and you can’t be out there grinding with them, knowing that you feel as if you can help but you can’t be out there helping as much,” Owens said. “It’s rewarding for me to be able to come out here with these guys and put in work.
“Practising two weeks ago was a huge one for me. Just the fact that I could be out there with them was huge. Now I get to go to war with them and it’s going to be even more special.”
It’s going to be special for quarterback Kevin Glenn as well.
The 38-year-old pivot said that he has watched Owens for years “and kind of hated it when he caught passes at the end of the game to beat teams that I was on.”
Now, deep into their careers, they finally are getting a chance to work together.
“I’ve watched him work to get to this point to be able to get in a game, so I’m happy for him,” Glenn said. “He’s a vet who has had a lot of years in this league (and) who has had a lot of success.
“Me being that type of guy (as well), it’s an honour to play with him.”
Owens will get a bigger role than was expected when he signed.
With Christion Jones entrenched as the Roughriders’ returner, Owens will focus only on being a receiver. He already has a rapport with Glenn because of their combined years of experience, so their expectation is that Owens will fill in seamlessly for Roosevelt.
“I enjoy playing receiver; I always have and I’ve always believed that I’m a better receiver than I am a returner,” said Owens, who has 504 career receptions for 5,982 yards and 25 touchdowns.
“But at the end of the day, you go into situations thankful for an opportunity. It was going to be initially as a returner and I was ready to do that job. Now it’s coming in and playing receiver. I’m ready for that, I’m excited for it and I can’t wait to catch my first pass from Kevin Glenn.”
While Owens was waiting for his opportunity to play, he watched his team grow into a playoff contender. That said, he doesn’t think the Roughriders have hit their stride yet — and he wants to help them do so.
At no point during his lengthy wait did Owens think about retiring. In his mind, he has plenty to offer Saskatchewan.
“I’ve never throughout my whole career looked at an age and a level of success as, ‘I’ve done enough,’ ” Owens said. “That’s the thing about life: You can never be satisfied in your professional life, in your personal life (or) post-football. There will always be more to overcome and more to get done. There are always new goals.
“I’m not looking back, I’m looking forward and up. I feel as if I’ve got a lot more to give and that’s my belief, that’s what I’m going to always stick to and that’s what motivates me each and every day. I know there’s more to get — and more to give.”
