Marcus Thigpen did what he could to pass the time during the first two weeks of the CFL regular season.
It worked, but only to a certain extent.
“(Those weeks) were painful, to be honest with you,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders tailback said after Wednesday’s closed practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Not being with my teammates and not being able to practise for a while, I felt disconnected from the team.
“But I used those two weeks wisely. I made sure I was working out, running hard and lifting weights so that when I did get back this week, I’d be prepared.”
Thigpen, 32, missed the Roughriders’ first two regular-season games because he was serving a CFL-imposed suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.
He was allowed to participate in the Roughriders’ training camp and pre-season, but the suspension meant he wasn’t able to take part in any team activities after the regular season started.
“Football season is here and that’s my focus.”
He spent the first week of the season in Regina, but returned to his hometown of Detroit for the second week. That allowed him to see friends and family and, perhaps more importantly, attend the ceremony as his daughter, Diamond Walker, graduated from eighth grade.
Thigpen worked out two or three times a day, studied his playbook, kept in touch with the Roughriders’ coaches … and tried to relax.
“Every time I go back to Detroit, it always gives me a new perspective on things and where I’ve come from,” Thigpen said. “Being able to see where I grew up and see my parents and grandparents is always a good refresher.
“I was ready to get back, though. Football season is here and that’s my focus, so I was ready to be with the boys and go through the grind with them.”
That said, Thigpen also used the time off to look back on his situation.
He still isn’t sure what happened to cause the positive result. The sample was collected during a random test in November.
Since becoming a vegan in the off-season, Thigpen has become even more cognizant of what he consumes. Unfortunately for him, that heightened awareness came too late.
“I make sure now that I know what I’m putting in my body because I don’t want to put myself at harm of missing games,” Thigpen said. “I feel like that’s selfish.
“I had never failed a test before and I’ve been playing for 10 years. Because that happened, I do reflect on it. But it’s over with and I’m back.”
Thigpen, who spent four seasons as a returner in the NFL, signed with the Roughriders in September and made his debut Sept. 15 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He had three punt returns for 77 yards in that game, but injured a shoulder on his third return.
He was back in the lineup for Saskatchewan’s regular-season finale, recording seven carries for 32 yards and a touchdown, two receptions for 31 yards and a TD and one kickoff return for 53 yards against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The following week, Thigpen started at tailback in the Eastern Semi-Final against the Ottawa Redblacks. He gouged the home team for 169 yards and a TD on 15 carries in Saskatchewan’s 31-20 victory.
He also started in the Eastern Final, rushing seven times for 34 yards and catching two passes for 16 yards as the Roughriders fell 25-21 to the Toronto Argonauts.
Entering the off-season, it was expected that Thigpen would battle Cameron Marshall and Trent Richardson to be Saskatchewan’s international tailback in 2018. But Thigpen was suspended, Marshall was released on the eve of training camp after failing his physical and Richardson stayed home to address family issues.
Those events prompted the Roughriders to bring a number of former NFL tailbacks to training camp. Tre Mason survived the competition and played in Saskatchewan’s first two regular-season games as the backup to Jerome Messam.
On Saturday, when the Montreal Alouettes visit Mosaic Stadium, Thigpen finally will return to the Roughriders’ roster.
According to offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo, Thigpen brings a good understanding of what the Roughriders’ offence is trying to do. He also plays with what McAdoo called “reckless abandon.”
“That’s something you wish all your guys would continuously do because speed k
ills,” McAdoo said. “You can’t coach it. When you put it on the field, it’s noticeable.”
Thigpen noted that the expectations people will have for him as he returns to the lineup will help motivate him. Having said that, he also knows he has to try to remain calm Saturday instead of getting caught up in the moment.
“I get amped up, but at the same time, I keep my composure because I’ve done that before: I’ve been so amped up that I’ve forgotten plays and kind of freaked out,” he said with a laugh. “You’ve got to learn how to control that.”
As he tries to rein himself in, he’ll also attempt once again to show that he deserves the roster spot. Having missed two games, Thigpen feels he has to prove himself.
“I’ve been cut a lot, so I never take any opportunity for granted,” he said. “Every time I play, I treat it like it’s my last time because you just never know.
“I’ve been around for a while and I have proven myself, but at the same time, it’s the mindset of, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ Every week, I’ve got to make sure I leave a lasting impression on the coaches and the whole league — because I want to play for another four or five years.”
EXTRAS: The Roughriders announced Wednesday they had signed international quarterback Devin Gardner. The 26-year-old University of Michigan product will be No. 3 on the depth chart behind Brandon Bridge and David Watford.
