Adams playing with heavy heart

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This article was published 07/10/2022 (1119 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While settling in with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, recently signed defensive end Keion Adams has been dealing with a family tragedy.

His cousins, two brothers, were killed in a wrong-way, head-on car crash on the interstate by an alleged impaired driver on Sept. 18 near his hometown of Salisbury, N.C.

They were well known in the community for being accomplished theatre performers.

A week later, Adams was released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders after a year and a half with the team. The next day, the Bombers signed the 27-year-old to the practice roster. Adams has since been activated and will make his first start in blue and gold on Saturday at IG Field against the Edmonton Elks.

“It was difficult, to think about what I got going on back home with the family and how that situation affected not only the people in our family, but also the lives of the people in Salisbury, North Carolina where I’m from,” said Adams after Friday’s walk through.

“But at the end of the day, I just leave it up to God and I pull from the strength that he gives me… and I pull from the strength of the team and what this organization gives me. It makes it easier and it helps to deal with everything that’s happened, me getting released, the deaths and all of that, with the excitement of me coming out here to play.”

Adams said he’s dedicating tonight’s game to his cousins and to anyone else that’s dealing with the loss of a loved one.

“They’ve been laid to rest and we’re moving forward not only as family, but as a city. They were a major part of our city with their contributions. I’m just moving forward and taking it one day at a time,” Adams said.

Adams is getting a chance to start right away as Jackson Jeffcoat continues to be sidelined with a hip injury. The Bombers also traded defensive end Cedric Wilcots II to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this week for defensive back Alden Darby, Jr., leaving Adams as the only suitable option.

Adams, who was drafted in the seventh round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft, has four sacks and 26 tackles in 16 career CFL games.

“I feel revitalized. It’s been refreshing being here, in this culture, around this team, and around these guys,” he said.

“The atmosphere has gotten me excited just to be playing football again. I’m ready to go out there and play at IGF and show the Winnipeg fans, not only them, but myself, who I am, and what I can do.”

Adams isn’t the only change to the lineup as Montreal native Redha Kramdi will start at the dimeback position instead of American rookie Donald Rutledge Jr.

Kramdi was drafted in the second round, 16th overall, by the Bombers in the 2021 CFL Draft. He played on special teams all season until last week’s game against the Riders when the Bombers pulled Rutledge in favour of the Canadian.

Rutledge is healthy and practised all week.

“It’s always a combination of things,” said head coach Mike O’Shea on the decision. “Redha has played Canadian football for a long time and Rut’s a rookie and in his first year. If you’re around and watching practice every day, you see Redha making more and more plays.”

Kramdi had a challenging season as a rookie. Two stints on the injured list limited him to seven games, but more important than anything on the gridiron, he was dealing with the death of his brother Sami.

Sami was 29.

“Midway through camp, I lost my brother. I had to go back home for the funeral and then I came back. And as soon as I came back, I pulled my hamstring so I was out for a couple weeks,” Kramdi said.

“This year was a fresh start for me with a clear mind and a clear spirit and just making sure that I’m me because last year I didn’t feel like myself.”

Kramdi said he wishes his brother could be in the stands on game day, but he knows his family is supporting him back in Montreal.

“Of course, they’re happy. My dad (immigrated to Canada) from Algeria so he didn’t know about football until I played football. He’s been following football since I started playing, so, he’s excited. I tried to bring him up here, but he’s gonna watch it at home. They’ve been watching every week.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31