Law returns to Stamps and begins getting in shape for post-season
Defensive lineman recovering incredibly well following ankle injury in pre-season
When a pre-season ankle injury forced Cordarro Law off the field in June, it seemed certain the Calgary Stampeders defensive end’s season was over before it had even begun.
On Tuesday, though, Law was back on the sideline at McMahon Stadium, stretching and working to strengthen his ankle in anticipation of a possible comeback before the CFL playoffs begin.
“I got back (to Calgary) yesterday around two o’clock,” Law said after Tuesday’s practice.
“My rehab was going so well down there and they were keeping in contact up here, and so they just told me to come on back up.
“When I injured it, the doctors predicted I was done for the year because I had a plate and four or five screws on both sides of the ankle, but I went home and it started healing well, and I started running and I’m blessed.”
The Stampeders won’t rush Law back into action, but both he and head coach Dave Dickenson said they were targeting the team’s regular-season finale against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Nov. 3 for a potential return.
There’s no overstating how big a boost that could provide the Stampeders, even if the team’s group of defensive linemen has been the CFL’s best this season without him. More on that in just a second. Law finished third in the CFL in sacks in 2013 before trying his hand at the NFL and then made an immediate impact when he returned to the club last year, finishing 2016 with nine tackles, three sacks and one fumble recovery in only four regular-season games.
He seemed poised to be even better in 2017 and had two sacks in limited playing time during the Stampeders’ pre-season opener against the B.C. Lions, only for the ankle injury to derail his season.
The Stamps know what he brings to the table, though, and Dickenson seemed eager to have him back in the fold.
“I’ve always said Cordarro is my type of guy,” Dickenson said.
“He works hard, he’s a leader, he produces ... Not a big talker — he does his (talking) with his pads. I always enjoy having him back. He was a guy I really wanted to sign and I really thought would have a really good year.”
If Law is available for the regular-season finale and then playoffs, the Stampeders will boast a totally terrifying defensive line.
The only team with more sacks than the Stamps’ 41 this year is the Toronto Argonauts, who have piled up 45 but have also played one more game than the Calgarians.
In Law’s absence, Ja’Gared Davis has proved himself to be one of the league’s top pass rushers and is one of three Stampeders d-linemen, along with Micah Johnson and Charleston Hughes, with eight sacks this season.
Only the Argos’ Victor Butler, with nine, has more, and Stamps rookie James Vaughters isn’t far behind, with six.
Add Law into the rotation and opposing offensive linemen won’t have a chance to catch their breath, regardless of who is lining up on the D-line for the Stampeders. For now, there’s still work to do. While Law’s recovery has gone well and he’s stayed focused on rehabbing his ankle, he’s nowhere near being in game shape and will need to put in plenty of practise time before he’s fully ready to step back on the field.
After a long summer, though, Law had a big smile on his face on Tuesday. There may be work to do, but he can’t wait to do it.
“(The injury) was devastating, but I’m feeling better now,” Law said.
“Just seeing the guys practising there (Tuesday), it made me feel better on the inside. Just getting back here and getting around the team and going back to meetings and stuff, it’s going well.”
My rehab was going so well down there and they were keeping in contact up here, and so they just told me to come on back up.