Rob Vanstone: Sacking the quarterback is “the epitome of fun” for a proud son — Bryan Cox Jr. 

The initial inclination was to save this angle as a timely lead-in to the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ home opener — a game with an accompanying “Dad’s Night Out” theme. 

But this column, much like Bryan Cox Jr., has arrived a little ahead of schedule. 

Entering Coors Light Riders Training Camp, it was reasonable to wonder whether there would be room for any newcomers on a veteran-laden defensive line. 

That is not a commentary on the recruiting, but rather a reflection of the depth and experience along the defensive front. 

Then the 28-year-old son of former NFL star Bryan Cox entered the equation — and, with some regularity, the opposition’s backfield. 

Cox Jr. registered a sack in both of the Roughriders’ pre-season games and is now expected to receive significant playing time in Sunday’s opener against the host Edmonton Elks (5 p.m., TSN, CKRM). 

Five days later, the Roughriders will welcome (but not too hospitably) the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to Mosaic Stadium to kick off Father’s Day weekend. Hence the aforementioned theme. 

The senior Cox, now the New York Giants’ assistant defensive line coach, was an NFL linebacker from 1991 to 2002. 

Over the first five seasons, spent with the Miami Dolphins, he appeared in three Pro Bowls. Bryan Jr. was born on June 25, 1994, as his father was preparing for his fourth NFL season. 

“I’ve been around elite players all my life, so I kind of know the process of how that works and how those guys work and the work they put in,” Cox Jr. said. 

“To me, it’s almost like it’s normal. I’ve been around it all my life, so I don’t even think anything about it, honestly.” 

Cox Jr.’s own NFL journey began in 2017 when he signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida. 

Over three seasons with Carolina, he played in 25 games. He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns (in 2019), Buffalo Bills (2020 and 2021) and Indianapolis Colts (2022). 

While with Buffalo, Cox Jr. played in one more NFL game (on Oct. 19, 2020 versus the Kansas City Chiefs) and subsequently suffered an Achilles’ tendon injury during a mini-camp in 2021. 

He returned to an NFL camp last year, having signed with the Colts, but was released on  July 29. 

Thereafter, he was out of football until signing with Saskatchewan on May 8. 

“Honestly, I had no idea what to expect,” Cox Jr. said. “I had never been to Canada in my life, so it was different coming here and everything like that. 

“But it’s a great experience. There are great people up here. Everybody’s nice and it’s a beautiful place.” 

As a bonus, there was the beautiful feeling of registering a sack in back-to-back games. 

“That’s what I like to do,” he said with a smile. “It’s fun.

“Football is a sport. It’s a game. I’ve been playing it since I was six years old, so that’s the epitome of fun to me.” 

SHORT SNORTS 

•  Receiver Brayden Lenius did not practise for the second day in a row. Lenius, who has a lower back injury, is not expected to play on Sunday. Offensive lineman Philip Blake, who has a suspected strain of a pectoral muscle, is “probably 50-50” for Sunday in the assessment of Dickenson.
• Newly signed offensive lineman Colin Kelly, who missed Wednesday’s workout due to illness, took part in Thursday’s session. “It’s good to see him out here and hopefully get his legs under him,’’ Dickenson said. “We’re expecting him to help us out.” Kelly, 33, has CFL experience with the Ottawa REDBLACKS (2014 and 2015), Edmonton (2017 to 2022), and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2022).
•  Three territorial juniors from the Prairie Football Conference’s Regina Thunder have joined the Roughriders’ practice roster — defensive lineman Max Parkinson, offensive lineman Riley Schick and receiver Isaiah Woodley. Parkinson, who is British, attended the CFL’s Global Combine in 2023. He recently joined the Thunder. Schick was on the Roughriders’ practice roster last season. Woodley, a speedster from the Boston suburb of Milton, was a PFC all-star last season after catching 34 passes for 593 yards and five touchdowns in eight games.