Roosevelt is ready to rejoin lineup
OTTAWA A game off was just what the doctor ordered for Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Naaman Roosevelt.
Roosevelt was practising with the CFL team Tuesday at Carleton University and apparently isn’t suffering any ill effects from a hit to the head that he suffered in a 15-9 loss to the visiting Calgary Stampeders on Sept. 24.
“I felt good and it felt like my legs were back,” Roosevelt said after Tuesday’s practice in Ottawa.
“It felt like a bye week for me because I was able to chill and relax. The trainers were always around me and they were just making sure that I was good. They said I was good to go and I felt good to go.”
Calgary defensive back Tunde Adeleke hit Roosevelt after he caught a pass over the middle.
Adeleke was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the hit that left Roosevelt prone on the field.
Roosevelt hasn’t watched a replay of the hit that sent him into the league’s concussion protocol.
“I’ve been just trying to get back,” said Roosevelt, who is to be activated from the six-game injury list for Saturday’s game against the host Toronto Argonauts.
“It was a big hit and I feel like I’ve had hits like that all of the time. For me, it just happened to be bad. I know that everyone is happy to see me back and I’m excited to be back with my guys.”
Adeleke initially led with his shoulder on the hit, but his helmet slid into contact with Roosevelt’s head. It was the helmet-on-helmet blow and hitting the turf with his head contributed to Roosevelt being knocked unconscious.
“There was probably a second where I was (unconscious),” Roosevelt said.
“After I walked off the field, I started to feel a little better. Right now, I just feel good.”
The hit added fuel to the debate in CFL circles regarding contact on defenceless receivers.
However, Roosevelt didn’t feel the hit was too dangerous.
“It was just a bang-bang play and I got caught in a bad spot,” Roosevelt said.
“I was just getting down to protect myself like I always do. I’m just happy to be out here.”
Roosevelt disclosed that it was the first concussion he had suffered in his football career.
He said he is concerned about what the impact of a concussion might mean after his career.
“Whenever you play football, you’re always worried because you have been playing football since you were young,” said Roosevelt, adding that the hit left him with a headache.
“You hear about it and you see it in movies, so it will always be in our head. I’m just glad to be out there playing.”
The Riders welcomed back Roosevelt, who is the team’s leader in catches (64), receiving yards (929) and is second in touchdown catches (seven) in 12 games.
“You always miss guys when they aren’t playing and it’s due to an injury,” said quarterback Kevin Glenn.
“You always feel for the guys. At the same time, you know that you have guys on the roster that can step up and fill in while he’s down. Naaman is a leader on the team and when he’s in there, we’re a better football team.”
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, is also pleased to have Roosevelt on the active roster.
But Jones declined to become involved in discussions regarding hits on receivers.
“Football is football and we’ll play with whatever rules the league comes up with,” Jones said.
“We’re coaches and players and we just comply to the CFL rules,” he added.