Aug
Eskimos get back to work
Courtesy Edmonton Journal:
A week off did the Edmonton Eskimos a world of good, especially defensive stalwarts Lenny Williams and Maurice Lloyd, who are battling back from hamstring injuries.
Whether they suit up for Saturday’s return against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5 p. m. at Commonwealth Stadium) will depend on the rest of the week of practice.
Williams was back on the field on Saturday, sans his helmet, as the Esks stretched out, padless, with about a 90-minute workout after their bye week. Lloyd did not take part in activities, along with Calvin McCarty and Kelly Malveaux, who also rested various ailments.
“If you ask me, it’s 120 per cent,” Williams said of his chances of returning.
“But I have to go with the proper precautions in getting back. Whenever they say I can play, I’ll be back there.”
His chances are greater than that of Lloyd, who stood on the sidelines in sandals.
“My week was good; relax and treatment, that’s all I did,” said Lloyd, who remained in Edmonton for bye the week.
“It’s wait and see. Regardless of how I feel, T. D. (head therapist T. D. Forss)and coach(Richie) Hall make the final decision. All I know is I’m feeling well … I’ll play when they tell me I have the green light.”
It will likely remain red for Lloyd, who missed the 38-35 win over the Calgary Stampeders on Aug. 13, along with Williams.
“It’s good we didn’t play this week because it gives them a chance to get back,” Hall said of the break. “We’ll have a better indication come Tuesday because these two days (Saturday and today) are light days, a chance to get our bearings back.
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“Mo, for the most part, is a long shot,” said Hall. “With leg injuries you want to be more safe than sorry and be over-cautious. If you bring them back too quick, you risk the opportunity of losing them for a greater period of time down the road, and we know that this next six-game stretch is very important for us.”
The Esks are coming off three wins in their last four outings and hope to continue their success, avenging that one loss to Hamilton.
“Start up the momentum again,” said Hall, whose team will continue to get its kinks out today before starting full preparation for the Ticats on Tuesday. “One of the key things for us over this bye week was to get healthy. We had some banged-up players. Hopefully their injuries feel a lot better.
“We want to continue that momentum that we have established. I don’t think that you suddenly lose it because it’s still in their minds, and they’re very excited about where they’re at right now. What we do is continue to ride their attitude, and that will carry us through the Hamilton game.”
Williams will have an outside shot at the Ticats contest, but Lloyd will likely be replaced for the second straight game by Rod Davis, who had not returned from the break on Saturday due to travel issues with bad weather out east.
Williams returned from Lake Charles, La., where he spent some valuable time with soon-to-be three-year-old son Daylon.
“It’s feeling a whole lot better, but you have to take things slow,” he said of his hamstring pull.
“I feel like my body needs to recover fast, but at the same time you don’t want to reinjure yourself.”
Lloyd is also chomping at the bit to get back, but wants to be 100-percent ready, whether the team is on a roll or not.
“You get back to where you were, by the way you got there,” Lloyd said of the momentum the 4-3 Eskimos are building. “The way you got there is by hard work, effort and being relentless.
“I think what we have right now is guys who finally had a chance to let their bodies rest and heal so that they can come back and be relentless for the rest of the season, so that we can be a full, healthy team.
“Some guys may not come back this season, some may. I know, for sure, I’ll be back soon.”
POINT AFTER: Safety Scott Gordon( leg injury)remained away from practice, as did centre John Comiskey, cornerback Lamar Herron and defensive halfback Willie Amos.
