SASKATOON — Josh Bartel was an exuberant participant in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ workout Monday.
The Roughriders’ veteran punter missed the first two weeks of the CFL team’s training camp, so he understandably was thrilled to be on the turf at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
“I was so excited, I ran around like a little kid,” Bartel said. “A few of the players probably got annoyed at me because I was being a bit of a (pain), but that’s my personality. I like to have fun when I’m out there. I missed it.”
Bartel had issues with his left (non-kicking) foot during the 2016 season and during the off-season. He thought he’d be ready for training camp, but the Roughriders’ training staff and doctors decided Bartel should rest his plant foot in the early stages of camp.
As a result, Tyler Crapigna, Quinn van Gylswyk and Regina Thunder punter-kicker Kris Calcutt (whom Bartel calls ‘Sunshine’ because of his flowing blond hair) handled the punting duties at practice while Bartel recovered.
“It has been a little bit odd, actually,” he said. “It’s the first camp that I’ve missed a couple of weeks and you feel like a little bit of an outsider.
“Everyone’s out there hustling hard and you’re in the treatment room trying to get better and trying to get ready. You feel a little bit left out, a little bit lonely. It’s bloody good to be back.”
Van Gylswyk handled the punting in Saturday’s 25-25 pre-season tie with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium and averaged 41.3 yards on four punts. The CFL sophomore also went 4-for-4 on his field-goal tries, so his ability to handle punting, placements and kickoffs makes him competition in camp for both Bartel and Crapigna.
“I suppose training camp is probably not the right time to get injured because spots are available and if other people do well, people who aren’t in good form get (released),” said Bartel, whose team is to face the B.C. Lions in pre-season action Friday in Vancouver. “Hopefully I’ll do well this weekend and we’ll go from there.”
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Also returning to the field Monday was long-snapper Jorgen Hus, who missed the first two weeks of camp while recovering from off-season wrist surgery.
Hus’ job has been handled in his absence by linebacker Alexandre Gagne, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Sherbrooke. The Roughriders only discovered at their mini-camp in Florida in April that Gagne could long-snap — and he has earned plaudits many times during camp from Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones.
“He had never long-snapped in a game,” Jones said of Gagne. “The other night was the very first time — and he did nothing but throw darts and he made two tackles on special teams. He has helped himself with this camp.”
To make room for Bartel and Hus, the Roughriders released veteran linebacker Tyler Hunter and rookie defensive back Alfonzo Dennard, a former member of the NFL’s New England Patriots.
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Bartel and Hus may have returned, but other players replaced them on the list of absentees.
Offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte and Josiah St. John, receiver Rob Bagg, fullback Spencer Moore, defensive lineman Jonathan Newsome, defensive back-returner Joe Craig and defensive back Tevaughn Campbell — all of whom dressed for Saturday’s game — weren’t on the field for Monday’s practice.
Also not participating were quarterback Vince Young, returner Chad Owens, tailback Kienan LaFrance, receiver Ricky Collins Jr., defensive back Zavian Bingham, linebacker Sam Eguavoen and defensive end Ivan Brown.
Defensive end Jordan Reaves started practice but didn’t finish it. The same applied to offensive tackle Derek Dennis, but Jones said Dennis’ injury wasn’t believed to be serious.
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EXTRAS: The Roughriders celebrated the 38th birthday of quarterback Kevin Glenn on Monday by dousing him with cold water after the workout. “It could have been worse, so I’m cool with it,” Glenn said. “I got an early start on the shower after practice. I’ve seen guys get taped to goalposts, literally all mummied up taped to the goalpost. I think Henry (Burris) got it done to him at a late age, too, in his career.” … Like many, Glenn was impressed with the work of quarterback Brandon Bridge during Saturday’s game. But Glenn also liked the efforts of all the backup QBs who played against the Bombers. “We showed what we’ve been doing during training camp,” Glenn said. “A lot of the guys mentioned that it was a little bit slower than practice when we do that double-barrel (action). They got a chance to hear the play and run the play through their minds before the ball actually was snapped, so that’s a good thing.” … Fourth-stringer Marquise Williams connected with Josh Stanford and Antwane Grant on a couple of beautiful long throws during Monday’s practice. Then, after the Roughriders returned to Griffiths Stadium following practice at SMF Field, Williams took to a grass field on the University of Saskatchewan campus and — all by himself — practised the footwork and reads he needs to execute plays.
