January feeling ‘fantastic’ as he rejoins Bomber lineup

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This article was published 04/07/2012 (4844 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Glenn January has declared himself fit and ready to play some football.

 The import left tackle will return to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lineup when the club takes on the Montreal Alouettes at Molson Stadium Friday night (6 p.m.). The 29-year-old has been dealing with a leg issue the last few weeks and after a false start against the B.C. Lions last week – he made the trip to Vancouver, only to bow out of the starting lineup the morning of the game – he says he’s feeling better than ever.

 “I feel fantastic,” he said after a rain-soaked, lightning-filled practice at Canad Inns Stadium Wednesday morning. “It’s been a long process getting healthy and working through some different things, but I’m excited to get back out there on the field and I’m excited to get out there Friday night.”

 Besides the leg issue, the six-year veteran was feeling under the weather this week. He got himself checked out by doctors Tuesday – just to make sure – and was given a clean bill of health. January, who was working hard to get back into game shape this week, dismissed the idea that he was feeling the negative effects of the warm temperatures.

 “The heat is obviously going to be an issue when you take some time off,” he said. “Three hundred pounds is not an easy weight to carry around (when you’re) coming back without the full privilege of a full training camp is difficult – and being sick, when it rains it pours.

 “I felt great today. I felt like a young buck running around.”

 That’s good news for the Bombers, who need an infusion of veteran experience after starting three rookies on the offensive line last week. With January in the lineup, the club will shift rookie import Jordan Taormina to the right tackle spot. The interior of the line – right guard Steve Morley, centre Chris Kowalczuk, left guard Chris Greaves – remains intact.

 Head coach Paul LaPolice told reporters he’s pleased to get January’s experience back in the trenches, but tempered expectations on what kind of impact the lineman could have on the offence as a whole. “I’m just more concerned about him doing his job than taking care of everyone else,” LaPolice said.

 The club added another import offensive lineman Wednesday, bringing Shannon Boatman back into the fold. The former Toronto Argo was released out of training camp, but was summoned as a precautionary measure, in case January’s injury flares up again or right tackle Andre Douglas (hip) doesn’t show some signs of progress next week.

 The Bombers are also expecting to have Jason Vega available for the Alouettes. He’s been nursing an undisclosed injury but after two days of practise should be OK to play. Fellow defensive end Kenny Mainor did not practise Wednesday.

 Winnipeg (0-1) travels to Montreal (0-1) Thursday morning.