RETURNER INSISTS RETURN MATCHUP NOTHING SPECIAL
Jones faces former Roughriders teammates for first time since being traded to Eskimos
Christion Jones is finishing the 2019 CFL season the same way he started.
Or, rather, finishing off against the same team he started out with.
Heading into a back-to-back series to close out the regular season, the wait is finally over for the kick returner to face a Saskatchewan Roughriders squad that brought him into the league in 2017.
His time in Regina came to an end on Aug. 5 when he was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for veteran receiver Kenny Stafford.
Needless to say, the move caught both players off guard, considering Jones was averaging 13 yards on punt returns and 24 yards on kickoff returns with the Riders, while Stafford was on pace for a career year in Edmonton with 366 yards and two touchdowns on 30 catches across the first seven games.
“It’s going to be the next game for me, for this team,” said Jones, underplaying any notion of facing his former team.
And while he’s seen his numbers fall since joining an Eskimos club with notorious special teams challenges, averaging just under 10 yards per punt return and just over 20 yards per kickoff return, Jones said he harbours no hard feelings against the Roughriders or their special teams co-ordinator-turned head coach, Craig Dickenson.
“Coach Dickey, for one, is one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life,” Jones said. “Him off the field is the same as him on the field, he’s a likable guy when it comes to wanting to play for him. He’s easy to play for, to be honest with you.”
Playing just three games with the Roughriders this season, Jones saw his job taken over by Marcus Thigpen, Loucheiz Purifoy and Kyran Moore, while the Eskimos needed to replace injured return man Martese Jackson.
“A very talented group over there, and it was just like being at the University of Alabama a couple years ago: Next guy up,” said Jones, who had been dealing with injuries to start the year. “And when guys are playing well, it’s hard to stop guys from playing well when the team is doing well. So I was in sort of a difficult situation, but not the first guy or the last guy to be in that situation, so I knew how to handle it.
“It was a mutual decision with (general manager) Jeremy O’day and coach Dickey and that’s why I still have the good relationship with those guys that I believe I do. And I really appreciate the opportunity they gave me the last two-and-a-half years.”
And on Saturday, he’d like to take the opportunity to face the Roughriders for the first time, and help his new team take the next step toward their upcoming playoff date against the Montreal Alouettes on Nov. 10.
“We’re still fighting to be the best team that we can be these last two weeks,” he said. “We know that we’re playing a great Saskatchewan team, so our challenge is ahead and this will sort of be a pyramid for us to see where we are and if we’re ready to go.
“And I think we are.”
Jones said he has come a long way in a short time with his new club.
“My whole goal was to prove a point to myself, reminding myself that I’m able to play in this league,” said Jones, who has also caught seven passes for 43 yards with the Eskimos. “And because of the situation I was in in Saskatchewan, things can hover over your head with your situation, so coming here was a great fresh start.
“And the group of guys we have here, to be motivated to come out and play every day let alone practice every day, it’s awesome. I was able to fit in with these guys very quickly and the chemistry flowed with me and coach A.J. (Gass, Edmonton’s special teams co-ordinator). And even (head) coach (Jason) Maas trusting me to implement me inside the offence, it’s just been a great experience for me. It just shows a sign that I’m building a lot of trust over here.”
In and out: Receiver Greg Ellingson, linebacker Maxime Rouyer and cornerback Josh Johnson returned to practice, while running back C.J. Gable is still out.
I mean, that’s a fun, unique opportunity that we have. But, personally, that’s not the way I’m looking at it.