Returning to the practice field was a howl for Anthony Lanier II.
Before meeting the media at Mosaic Stadium on Monday, the 31-year-old defensive lineman joyously let loose with one of his canine-style yelps — one way of celebrating notable progress toward once again appearing in a CFL game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“It’s a blessing,” said Lanier II, who has missed six games with a knee injury.
“Every time you have an injury, especially at this time in my career, you’re always thinking about the worst. At the same time, you understand, ‘Hey, I’ve still got a lot.’
“When you get out there, you understand what your voice and what your emotions mean to the guys.”
Lanier II said he is not expected to play on Friday against the Calgary Stampeders (7:30 p.m., McMahon Stadium). But his mere presence was a positive for an injury-riddled Roughriders team.
“He had the helmet on today, so that was a start,” Head Coach Corey Mace said, “and you certainly hear him when he’s out here, right?
“He’s trending in the right direction. He has had quite the career here. The guys who have been in there have been playing their tails off, so that’s a good thing for us.
“We’ve got good depth at the D-line position, but if you insert Lanier into anything, it’s a plus.”
According to the official injury report, Lanier II was a limited participant in practice.
The same designation applied to offensive tackle Jacob Brammer (knee) and linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed (elbow).
Defensive lineman Malik Carney (ankle) did not practise.
BYE-BYE BYE WEEK
The Roughriders’ second of three bye weeks concluded on Monday with the resumption of practice.
“The energy was outstanding in the building,” Mace said. “In practice, guys were flying around. You could just tell that their legs looked a little bit different.
“That’s just part of going through a season. You go through a 10-game stretch (without a break) and you try to prepare yourselves for that physically.
“If you look at the results and how many guys had to play over that span, I thought the bye week was perfectly timed for us to clear our space mentally and, physically, to get our legs back.”
4,500 … AND COUNTING
The Roughriders added five American players to the practice roster leading up to Monday’s workout.
On Sunday, the team announced the signings of receiver Tre Mosley, offensive lineman David Murray and defensive lineman Zion Tupuola-Fetui.
Those additions increased the Roughriders’ All-Time player count to 4,500.
On Monday morning, two more Americans were added to the list — running back Ryquell Armstead and linebacker Braxton Hill.
All are newcomers to the CFL except Armstead, who played 11 games with the Ottawa REDBLACKS this season before being released on Sept. 3.
Armstead is fourth in the league in rushing yards (623) even though he has yet to play in September. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry with Ottawa.
As well, he caught 35 passes for 284 yards in 11 games with the REDBLACKS.
KeeSEAN CASHES IN
KeeSean Johnson has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Roughriders’ past four games.
That is the team’s longest TD-receptions streak since 2017, when Duron Carter (six games in a row) and Naaman Roosevelt (four) strung together some gems.
Carter, Hugh Campbell (1969) and Weston Dressler (2012) share the team record of six games in succession.
With a touchdown catch on Friday in Calgary, Johnson can tie Dressler (2013) and Jack Russell (1951) at five consecutive games.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Milt Stegall holds the CFL record for the longest TD-pass streak (eight games) during a regular season (1997).
Terry Evanshen caught at least one TD pass in 10 consecutive games for the Stampeders, including their final seven regular-season games in 1967 and their first four in 1968.
