Jerald Hawkins could not erase the smile from his face.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive tackle was beaming on Tuesday after practising with the CFL team for the first time in three weeks.
Hawkins had been at home in Louisiana tending to a family matter, the resolution of which has allowed him to resume his football career.
“It feels amazing,” Hawkins said. “I missed this team. I missed my brothers. I missed the coaches.
“It’s just peace of mind, honestly.”
Hawkins had been ticketed to start at left tackle until being called away. In his absence, the Roughriders played two regular-season contests.
What was it like to watch from afar?
“It was nerve-wracking and there’s a little anxiety in you, because you wish you could be with them and encourage them and stuff like that, but they held it down,” Hawkins said.
A fourth-round draftee (123rd overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016, Hawkins has 19 games of NFL experience and could soon get his first taste of pro football as it is played in Canada. He did not play in either of the Roughriders’ pre-season games.
Hawkins, 29, last dressed for a football game on Jan. 3, 2021, when Pittsburgh visited the Cleveland Browns. He signed with the Roughriders on Dec. 8.
“I can’t wait (to play again),” he said. “I’m looking forward to those chills, those jitters, and the hair on the back of your neck raising up.”
Also practising on Tuesday was offensive tackle Colin Kelly, who is eligible to play on Saturday against the host Calgary Stampeders after serving a two-game suspension.
Brandon Council and Eric Lofton were the Roughriders’ starting offensive tackles for the first two games of the 2023 season.
“I thought they played well,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said. “They did a good job.
“They’re not going to make it an easy decision, which is what we want. Anytime you have tough decisions, it means you have a good team.
“We’ll let it play out this week and we’ll let you know on Day 4.”
LENGTHY LIST
Nine players who dressed for the Roughriders in Friday’s home opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers did not practise on Tuesday.
The most-recent injury report included defensive linemen Anthony Lanier II (foot), DeMarcus Christmas (knee), Nicholas Dheilly (head) and Lake Korte-Moore (hamstring), defensive backs Rolan Milligan Jr. (back) and Jayden Dalke (back), running back Frankie Hickson (shoulder) and fullback Albert Awachie (hamstring).
However, Dickenson doesn’t expect the injury list to be as expansive once the Roughriders are poised to face Calgary.
“We’re optimistic — we really are,” he said. “Day 1 is a day where if they aren’t 100 per cent, we keep them in (the locker room).”
Cornerback Nic Marshall (shoulder) was a full participant on Tuesday after sitting out Friday’s game.
Strong-side linebacker Derrick Moncrief, also a full participant, could make his 2023 season debut after recovering from shoulder surgery.
“He’s on track to play,” Dickenson said of the two-time All-Star linebacker. “Whether he starts or not, we’ll have to see, but we’re hoping to get him a full week of practice.”
With Moncrief sidelined, C.J. Reavis has been starting at strong-side linebacker.
RODNEY RETURNS
In response to the Hickson injury, the Roughriders have re-signed running back Rodney Smith, who had attended training camp with the team.
Smith starred at the University of Minnesota before having NFL stints with the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions.
He had seven carries for 27 yards during the 2023 CFL pre-season before being released on June 3.
“He’s a great guy,” said Roughriders running back Jamal Morrow, a graduate of Washington State University.
“It’s actually funny. I played against him in a bowl game when he was in his freshman year at Minnesota and I got to talk to him about that.
“He’s a very calm, cool and collected guy, so he brings another dynamic to the room as well. He’s also very versatile on the field, so he’ll be a great addition when he gets his opportunity.”
PFF POINTS
Three members of the Roughriders made the Pro Football Focus team of the week, which was announced on Tuesday.
PFF recognized receiver Samuel Emilus, middle linebacker Larry Dean and cornerback Deontai Williams for their efforts against Winnipeg.
Emilus caught his first three CFL touchdown passes in a 45-27 loss to the Blue Bombers. Dean registered 10 defensive tackles. Williams had a stellar CFL debut in place of Marshall.
PFF, which has traditionally and exhaustively graded NFL and NCAA players, is in its first season of an association with the CFL.
