Liam Richards/Electric Umbrella
OTTAWA — Nic Demski isn’t sure what the Saskatchewan Roughriders have in store for him in the coming weeks, but he’s eager to find out.
The CFL’s Roughriders have activated the receiver-returner off their six-game injured list and the 23-year-old product of Winnipeg has resumed practising with the team.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that Demski will play Sunday against the host Toronto Argonauts in the East Division final, but he’s OK with that.
“(Returning to the field) is a pretty sweet opportunity,” Demski said Thursday after the Roughriders held a closed practice at Carleton University.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen or what kind of game-time decision will be made either this week or next week — if we make it (to the Grey Cup game Nov. 26) — but I’m just going to keep working hard and practising, help my teammates get better and do whatever I’ve got to do in order to be part of this Grey Cup run.”
Demski broke a bone in a foot during Saskatchewan’s 38-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Labour Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium. The injury didn’t require surgery, but Demski missed the Roughriders’ final nine regular-season games as well as the East Division semifinal.
He practised for the first time Wednesday and admitted there’s some rust to knock off.
“It’s a little slow coming back,” he said. “I screwed up on a couple of plays today, but at the end of the day, it’s just football. You’re out there having fun, doing what you love to do and doing what you get paid to do.
“I’m super-grateful for it. To get an injury like I did and to be out for 10 weeks hurts your mind a little bit, but I’m happy to be back — and I won’t take anything for granted.”
Demski, who’s in his third season with the Roughriders, had 19 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown and 23 punt returns for 227 yards in the nine games he played this season.
As a Canadian who is capable of starting, Demski could provide some relief when it comes to the ratio. But to get back into the lineup before the end of the season, he’ll have to show head coach-GM Chris Jones that he’s 100-per-cent healthy and that he can make an impact.
If Demski can’t do either of those things, returning to practice but not being able to play could be a tough pill for him to swallow. But he’ll do whatever is asked of him.
“What was torture for me was my teammates being away from me and them having as much fun as they were and me not feeling like I was part of the team,” Demski said.
“I’m just happy to be back on the field and doing what I’ve got to do for my teammates to have success. If I can’t play, obviously that would suck, but my team’s winning, I’m part of it, I’m here with them and I’m having a great time.”
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The Roughriders are waiting to make roster decisions at other positions as well, with injured players returning to health.
Guard Brendon LaBatte, who suffered a left-leg injury in Saskatchewan’s regular-season finale on Nov. 4, has returned to practice. But his status for Sunday’s game in Toronto remains unknown.
“We don’t have any real update there,” Jones said. “He felt better today, but as far as me deciding which way to go, we don’t know yet.”
Tailbacks Cameron Marshall (knee) and Trent Richardson (ankle) also have been working out, but they’re not as healthy as Marcus Thigpen — and Jones reiterated that the healthiest tailback will play in Toronto.
“Marcus played awfully well,” added Jones, referring to Thigpen’s 169 rushing yards in Sunday’s 31-20 victory over the host Ottawa Redblacks in the East semifinal, “so that will be a decision made between myself and the offensive staff.”
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The East final will pit Jones (who’s considered one of the CFL’s top defensive coaches) against Argos head coach Marc Trestman (who’s viewed as one of the league’s best offensive minds).
That matchup, as much as the ones between individual players, will be interesting to watch Sunday.
“Marc Trestman does an outstanding job of coming up with different game plans,” Jones said. “You think you’ve got one thing (figured out) and he’s going to have two more counters off of it.
“He’s a tremendous play-caller and certainly his offensive staff does an outstanding job of putting plans together.”
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A coaching situation down south has caught the attention of Roughriders cornerback Kacy Rodgers II.
His father, Kacy Rodgers, currently is the defensive co-ordinator of the NFL’s New York Jets. But recent reports suggest that the University of Tennessee is looking at the elder Rodgers to be its head football coach.
The younger Rodgers is trying to stay focused on Sunday’s game against the Argos, but part of him is interested in seeing what happens with the Volunteers and his dad.
“He wasn’t even the one who told me about it; I was scrolling on Twitter and happened to see it come by,” noted Rodgers II, whose parents both are Tennessee alumni. “I said, ‘Wow. This is interesting,’ so I sent it to him. I’m sure he had seen it already, but I sent him a few articles that mentioned it. I was in shock.
“There’s obviously quite a bit of excitement, even if it is just rumours and speculation right now. Anytime your dad is supposedly up for anything of that magnitude, it’s awesome.”
