Daniels, Jordan make the trip to Hamilton
Stampeders receivers expected to join lineup against Hamilton on Friday
DaVaris Daniels wasn’t practising with his Calgary Stampeders teammates on Wednesday, but he’ll still be making the trip to Steeltown for this weekend’s game against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Oh, and Kamar Jorden’s going to be in there, too.
Jorden completed his third day in a row of full practice Wednesday and will officially come off his second stint on the six-game injured list in time for Friday’s contest in the Hammer (5 p.m., TSN/News Talk 770), while Daniels’ absence apparently had more to do with the ridiculously miserable midOctober cold weather system that’s descended on southern Alberta.
“Both receivers ... I’m taking, DaVaris and Kamar,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson when asked Wednesday. “If it’s a nice day, I think (Daniels) has got a better chance to play. He knows his stuff — he’s ready to go. The cold weather’s just been giving him some pain in his knee.”
While it isn’t ideal for the Stampeders to be sitting players due to the cold weather, that’s just the reality for a football team playing in a city where there’s inexplicably no field house nor adequate indoor practice facility.
But the good news is that with Daniels and Jorden back in the lineup, the Stampeders receiving group is getting a serious boost heading into the back end of the CFL season.
It likely means it will be tough to find a place in the lineup this week for fellow receiver Reggie Begelton, who has been impressive over the past couple of games, but Marken Michel is expected to play on Friday despite the two more experienced pass-catchers returning.
“Marken will be on anyways. Reggie Begelton will be the tougher one, whether or not he can squeeze into the lineup,” Dickenson said. “That doesn’t mean Marken will be starting, though. If DaVaris can play, I’m going to play him, and if he’s ready, he’ll be starting.”
When he was asked about losing his place as a starter, Michel didn’t seem the least bit concerned. He has made a serious impact in his first season with the Stampeders and should be getting Most Outstanding Rookie consideration, so Michel knows his chances will come.
“(Jorden and Daniels returning) definitely pushes me to go out there and go extra hard, but for me, it’s not necessarily about starting,” Michel said. “It’s going out there and doing what I do. When coach puts me on the field, my mind says go out there and make plays, regardless of whether I’m starting or going out there in the fourth quarter.
“If I get the last play or the last pass of the game, my mindset is go out there and make a play with the football. It doesn’t matter if I’m starting or not.”
WILLIAMS IN
With an ankle injury sidelining Stampeders kick returner Roy Finch, the team will turn to Terry Williams for Friday’s game against the Ticats.
Williams was spectacular in his debut at running back two weeks ago against the Montreal Alouettes, running for 156 yards and showing lightning-quick speed, and he looked dynamic when returning kicks in pre-season.
Michel will be available, too, if needed, while Tunde Adeleke has returned two punts for touchdowns this season and can help fill the hole left by Finch’s absence.
“We’ll let Terry start out there, but Marken does a good job not only on kick returns but punt returns as well,” Dickenson said. “We saw him return one in preseason for a touchdown. We lose something (without) Roy. He’s had a great season and has done a great job, but we’ll mix and match a little bit and give other guys their opportunities.”
STILL STRUGGLING
For the better part of a month now, it’s seemed like linebacker Deron Mayo could be on the verge of a return to the lineup. On Wednesday, though, the 29-yearold was once again sidelined and didn’t participate in the Stampeders’ practice at McMahon Stadium.
Mayo’s been out for almost a year now since a leg injury ended his 2016 season, and the team is being deliberately cautious with his recovery.
“He just hasn’t been able to practise hard and be pain free,” Dickenson said. “He does well, and then the next day or so, he’s got soreness. We don’t think it’s anything structural but certainly not what we were hoping for.
“Ultimately, I’d love to see him play before the end of the year, and I think that will happen.”