Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

The CFL season is constantly filled with bumps, bruises, aches and pains.

One exception to the distress of dealing with a regular part of professional football is the time after a squad enjoys a bye week. The Saskatchewan Roughriders haven’t tackled or thrown game-time blocks since losing 30-25 to the Calgary Stampeders on Aug. 7. That changes Thursday when the Riders resume the season in Edmonton against the Eskimos (7 p.m.) The players are prepared to restart the season refreshed and recovered after racing into a 6-1 West Division lead.

“I needed the break,” Riders running back Wes Cates said after Tuesday’s final preparations at Mosaic Stadium for Thursday’s game. “I’m getting my legs back and I’m feeling younger. The break was a chance to heal up and I did that. Now, I’m ready to go.”

The good feelings aren’t limited to Cates. Quarterback Marcus Crandell is also feeling stronger.

“I feel just as good as I did before training camp,” said Crandell, who is to make his third straight start after missing three-plus games with an injured hamstring. “I got a lot of my strength back. I can push off a whole lot more. It was nice to have a break and I wish we could have another one later on. It’s a long season.”

The Riders will get another respite before playing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the annual Labour Day Classic on Aug. 30. They have 10 days to recover from the game against the Eskimos.

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