The Saskatchewan Roughriders defence is getting a big boost just in time for a big game against the B.C. Lions.
Linebacker Weldon Brown has been out of the lineup for the last few weeks after being a late scratch on Sept. 22nd when the Riders lost 24-22 to the Lions.
"I guess my knee just had enough," Brown joked. "It was like, 'Weldon, it's time to sit down.'"
That week Brown's knee swelled up in the middle of a meeting. He's not actually sure how or why. Brown speculates that it might have to do with some turf burn he had been dealing with; he also took a helmet to the knee not too long ago. Regardless, Brown didn't think it was actually that serious at first.
"I thought they was just going to drain the knee and I'll be okay," said Brown. "The doctor told me it was infected so I ended up having to sit out."
That's when the pain began. During that time he couldn't really run at all.
Brown actually ended up having to go to the hospital to receive treatment on his knee. Apparently it was an experience he wasn't too excited about.
"I had to get an I.V. and do all that nasty stuff," he said. "It took a couple of weeks to get the I.V. in me and clean the infection out and start my rehab process."
The knee didn't exactly bounce back quickly. He admits that thoughts of having to sit out even longer and perhaps miss the rest of the regular season or more did creep into the back of his mind, but Brown stayed positive and took his recovery one game at at time.
At its peak the knee was actually swollen to about the size of a softball, but it wasn't the entire knee that was affected as much as the top of the knee.
"I could barely extend my leg," said Brown. "I could barely walk, I could barely get in the car. Just a whole bunch of things I wasn't expecting off of that injury."
Brown credits the doctors and coaching staff for giving him time to get the knee better. He admits he's not exactly where he wants to be physically right now, but mentally he's feeling ready to go.
"This is the best time to be back, to make big plays. This is where teams make history," he said. "Even battling for second place this week."
The defence managed to do a pretty good job with Brown but his return allows for some of the other players on defence to return to their normal spots on the field. Carlos Thomas will slide back to defensive back after playing a mix of linebacker and safety in Brown's absence. Also filling in for Brown at times was Tyron Brackenridge, who will now spend more time again at safety. Prince Miller is now the odd man out.
News and Notes
- LB Tristan Black, FB Spencer Moore and LB Cory Huclack all sat out practice again on Thursday. All three are key players on the Riders special teams units.
- With those players off it appears FB Daryl Stephenson, LB Kevin Regimbald, and DL Levi Steinhauer will make their way on to the roster.
- Saturday's game is Cameco Touchdown for Dreams day; players and coaches will be wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness. On the Green Zone Pre-Game show hear from centre Dominic Picard on his own fight against cancer.
