Picking up where he left off Parker Jr. making an impact at Bombers training camp By: Joshua Frey-Sam Posted: 5:31 PM CDT Monday, May. 12, 2025

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/05/2025 (505 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the second play of team period (12-on-12) during Blue Bombers training camp on Sunday, Zach Collaros zipped the ball to what he thought was an open receiver in the middle of the field.

For a moment, it looked like a big play was about to unfold. Then, flying in at the last second, seemingly out of nowhere, was Jamal Parker Jr., who read the play like a book and undercut the route for the interception.

His defensive teammates, like they do anytime someone causes a turnover in practice, erupted as Parker ran for what would’ve been a touchdown.

The play, though inconsequential in a practice setting, still meant something to Parker. It came almost a year to the day after he had torn the ACL in his right knee, ending what was supposed to be a breakout season for the versatile defensive back before it really began.

“In the moment, I didn’t really think nothing of it, because I was so locked in. But then afterwards, I reflected — sitting out (for a year), first day back, get the first pick of camp. It felt real good,” said the 27-year-old fourth-year pro.

Parker isn’t jaded about losing a season to injury, but he’ll never forget how it happened.

“It was Day 3 of camp. May 14. Last team period. Play three. Kenny (Lawler) ran a skinny post. I went to jump, but when I jumped, I didn’t want to fall on him, so I tried to jump over him, and then when I landed, my leg was, like, hyper-extended,” he said.

He was the clubhouse leader to be the starting field corner for the club before going down. Instead, the Bombers filled that position with Tyrell Ford, who went on to have a career year.

“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. So at the moment, I can’t really control that, because I’m not able to perform or control that part. So, my whole mindset was just getting better for the following year,” Parker said.

The week after he was injured, defensive tackle Cam Lawson went down with a season-ending knee injury. A little more than a month later, receiver Dalton Schoen joined them on the season-long shelf with the same injury. What started as a lonely trek back to the field quickly became a group effort.

“You never want nobody hurt. But rehabbing with somebody, two people, Cam and Dalton, I probably spent the most time with here, and rehabbing the same injury, it does help a lot,” Parker said.

Lawson and Schoen have yet to return to the field, as the club continues to be cautious in rolling them back into action.

“Because the injury is so long and recovery, and it’s not one of those injuries where you work, work, work, and then you come back earlier. It don’t really work like that,” he added. “It’s kind of on your body and how you feel and how stable your knee is.

“So we’re all on the same timeline, basically. So, we all can relate to all the issues we got.”

The product of Pennsauken, N.J., could’ve easily gone home to recover, but decided to have surgery and rehab in Winnipeg. He was around the team daily, at practice and in meetings, sponging as much information as possible while acting as a “mini coach,” as he called it, on the sideline.

“Firstly, as a person, he brings a certain energy every day,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “He brings a love for his teammates. He’s a great young man to be around. As you get to know him a little more and be around him, he just gives a lot of energy to people.

“And then last year, when he was hampered by an injury, all he did was stand beside (defensive assistant) Richie Hall and talk defence — all the time. And talk offensive routes and how it affects the defence. Every time I turned around, he was standing there and trying to learn more.

“And then the rehab goes really well for him. Although it was tough slugging, he did very well. Now he’s back on the field, which I think all the vets that have been around with him really appreciate how hard he’s worked. And they see it. They see what he was doing on the sideline, or what he was doing when we were playing games.”

Parker has racked up 50 defensive tackles and 11 on special teams, while adding one interception and one sack in 20 career games for the Blue and Gold.

At 5-8, 177 pounds, he is living proof that size isn’t everything in football. He’s one of the most versatile players on the team, having played cornerback and halfback throughout his first two seasons.

This season, Parker could check off the final box of positions he’s played in the secondary. Through two days of camp, he’s aligned primarily at free safety, a position patrolled by Brandon Alexander for the last seven seasons.

It’s where he’s preparing to play this year, and his prospects are promising, according to halfback Evan Holm.

“For me, I really like BA. I was close with BA, so obviously we miss him. But I’m close with ’Mal, too,” said Holm, who entered the league at the same time as Parker. “ I always know if there’s ever a problem or something we don’t understand, he’s gonna try to get it right, make sure we’re in the right spot.

“His communication has been great so far. He’s locked in, ready to go. We’ve been together for now, this is going on four years. Same with Deatrick (Nichols)… now (Marquise Bridges) has been here a year, so we kind of all try to communicate anyway, so then if someone goes down, we can just step in. So I think he’s done a great job, and we’re already kind of hitting the ground running I think.”

Indeed, Parker’s extra effort from last season appears to be paying dividends already. It helped him make a great play in his return to action, and the Bombers will need more where that came from, as he’s expected to be an important piece of the defence this season.

“Just grateful. I was grateful just to put my cleats on and get to run the turf and go through a walk through. Just little things like that, or just catch a football again. Put a jersey on,” he said. “So it makes you grateful and appreciate the smallest things.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca