Aug
Lumsden to limit physical contact for 6 months
Courtesy Edmonton Journal:
Jesse Lumsden’s surgically repaired left shoulder is in a sling and will remain there for two more weeks.
The first-year Edmonton Eskimos running back will also stay away from any physical contact for the next six months as he recovers from a shoulder dislocation suffered in the first game of the CFL season.
“It feels as good as it can be, two weeks post-op now. I feel confident, I feel positive and I’m starting to workout again,” said Lumsden, who returned to Edmonton on Wednesday night and spoke to media for the first time since his surgery.
He spent some valuable time at home in Hamilton and looks forward to attending team meetings with the Esks and helping prepare for opponents, like his former Tiger-Cats teammates who are here on Saturday.
“It’s all important to me, puts me in a good frame of mind. … I really feel a part of this family and that’s great,” admitted a smiling Lumsden. “It’s good to be back working out, it’s good to be contributing in meetings and good to be doing whatever I can to help.
“I’ll vacuum, I don’t care,” laughed Lumsden. “(Locker-room attendant) Joey (Moss) left, he’s gone back to the Oilers, so somebody has to do it.”
Lumsden’s workouts are focusing on his legs on the stationary bike and with squats and curls and extensions. He returned home to Hamilton following surgery in Edmonton.
“I pretty much hunkered down with my parents. I had my two dogs with me and it was definitely a good peace of mind,” he admitted.
“It was a good place to rest for a week, spending time with family and friends is always good for the mind and my mom was cooking for me, so I can’t complain,” he chuckled.
And he had a message for those skeptics who believe his career might be over.
“I love when somebody tells me I can’t do something. It just becomes motivation. It’s not about getting angry at that person and wanting to prove them wrong,” stressed Lumsden, who was injured in the final minute of the first quarter of the opening game on a solid hit from Winnipeg Blue Bombers safety Siddeeq Shabazz.
“I know what I can do, I know what I’m capable of. The most frustrating thing for me is I know I can contribute on the football field. I know I can do it and it’s been something very small that’s been getting in my way, that I haven’t been able to control.
“I know I’m going to control how hard I work in this off-season. I’m going to do whatever it takes to be in the shape I can, so that nothing less than a shotgun blast is going to stop me. … I’m going to be ready to help out and contribute.”
