Chad Owens is keeping things in perspective.
The 35-year-old product of Honolulu could be activated off the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ one-game injured list to handle returns for the CFL team during Sunday’s Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium. Or he could remain on the injured list as he waits for the foot he injured in 2016 to completely heal.
He’s not sure which fate awaits him.
Owens said Thursday that he’s preparing mentally to play Sunday, but the fact that his body isn’t yet at 100 per cent frustrates him. The veteran also has weighed the adversity he’s facing against that being faced by others these days — and it doesn’t measure up.
“I sit here and talk about my foot and my wanting to play, but there are people in Houston right now who lost their homes and lost their lives (in Hurricane Harvey),” Owens said at Mosaic Stadium. “It’s a little bit of a rude awakening with that situation — and perspective.
“We’re blessed to be here, blessed to be able to have each other and run around and play this game. I can’t really complain about not playing football right now. I’ve still got a roof over my head. I’ve got my family, I’ve got my friends, I’ve got good health. (It’s) just a little bit of perspective.”
Owens missed the final six games of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ 2016 regular season after suffering an injury to his right foot. The subsequent surgery ended his season.
He signed with the Roughriders in February with the expectation that he would be the team’s primary returner in 2017, but his recovery was slow. He was a spectator for most of Saskatchewan’s training camp and started the regular season on the six-game injured list.
While there, Owens drew rave reviews from coaches and teammates for the help and guidance he offered younger players who were filling his shoes. But tutoring Nic Demski and Christion Jones wasn’t the same for Owens as handling the Roughriders’ returns.
“It’s tough, but I’ll tell you what would be tougher: Me being at home out of a job, watching,” he said. “It’s perspective. I embrace my role. I embrace the position I’m in. I embrace (that) I’m injured and I’m still here. The coaches and the organization see a lot of value in what I bring, not just on the field but leadership (and) mentorship.
“That has been my role this first half of the season and I’ve seen a lot of these young guys make big strides. I get excited when I see a young guy get an opportunity and make a play because I was that guy before, just looking for an opportunity, being overlooked and getting an opportunity finally in Toronto.”
Owens was a star with the Argonauts, winning awards as the CFL’s most outstanding special-teams player in 2010 (when he exceeded 1,000 yards each in punt returns and kickoff returns) and as the league’s most outstanding player in 2012 (when he set a league record with 3,863 combined yards).
But he hasn’t played more than 13 games in a season since.
Doctors have told Owens that his foot is structurally sound, but he still feels pain. And if he’s not 100 per cent, he doesn’t think he should play.
“The way I play the game, I can’t be going half speed,” he said. “I play at full speed. Everything I’ve got, every ounce of my energy, everything I have inside me is what I like to let go on game day. I need it all.”
Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones also wants to wait until Owens is 100-per-cent ready, so discussions will continue until the roster deadline arrives for Sunday’s game.
In the meantime, Demski and A.J. Jefferson wait to find out if they’re going to handle punt returns against Winnipeg.
Demski has done the job this season, recording 22 punt returns for 164 yards. Jefferson has been on the practice roster since signing with the Roughriders on July 18, but the former Argo and Ottawa Redblack has returned 28 punts for 338 yards and one touchdown during his CFL career.
“I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I love to have the ball in my hands,” Jefferson said. “It’ll be exciting to see if they want to put me back there.
“But I won’t set expectations for the game because I don’t know what they’re thinking. They want to weigh some things, see how Chad is feeling and see which guys are healthy. I’ll just try to stay ready, prepare like I’m going to play and then, if not, I’ll be ready for the next game.”
According to the CFL’s transaction wire, Jefferson has been added to the Roughriders’ roster while Christion Jones has been put on the six-game injured list. That would seem to suggest that Jefferson will be on the roster for Sunday’s game.
The 29-year-old product of Bakersfield, Calif., has been biding his time since arriving in Saskatchewan, so he’s eager to finally get a chance.
“I’ve been playing football a long time and (waiting) is part of the process, especially with Coach Jones’ defence,” said Jefferson, who has 95 tackles and six interceptions in 32 regular-season games in the CFL. “It takes time to learn. There’s no way you can just come in here and know it, coming from a different team.
“It was kind of frustrating not being able to get on the field, but getting reps in practice gave me enthusiasm and motivation to be ready. Getting activated gets me more excited about it.”
