Veteran receiver Randle has redemption on his mind

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This article was published 25/05/2018 (2688 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Rueben Randle, a former receiver with the New York Giants, spending two years out of football felt like an eternity.

But after battling injuries for the better part of the last two seasons, the 27-year-old said he is back to full health and looking to revive his football career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after inking a deal earlier this week.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s been tough,” said Randle, who most recently battled hamstring issues that cut short his stay with the Chicago Bears. “Sitting around watching, dealing with injuries and knowing you want to be out there playing, knowing you’re capable of being out there playing, it was tough on me. Mentally, I had to stay strong and keep putting in the work and make sure I’m ready.”

Randle is the latest addition to the deep pool of receiver talent at camp. He has one of the better resumés among the crew of hopefuls — he had 20 touchdowns and racked up 2,644 yards in four seasons with the Giants — he isn’t immune to the pinch of having to play catch-up.

“My brain is a little fried trying to pick up everything,” he said. “I came in a little bit late, so trying to get caught up with the rest of the guys.”

Though still trying to wrap his head around the CFL game — the movement, pre-snap reads and overall play calls — Randle is motivated to be back on the field. He said he’s confident that once he learns the terminology in the playbook and is more comfortable with the various play calls, he’ll be able to return to being the dominant player he once was.

“I still got a lot left in me, a lot to prove, so it should be fun,” he said.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said it’s still too early to make an assessment on Randle. O’Shea understands some of the challenges that might arise when coming north.

“It’s hard to say… it’s different for every guy. Some of the things you run into is it’s a foreign country, the game is significantly different,” O’Shea said. “Some of those things are a challenge but it really depends on the personality of the individual, whether or not they’re going to have an open mind and are willing to learn when they get up here.”

BENNETT IS BACK: the Bombers have signed quarterback Bryan Bennett to a one-year deal, marking the return of a familiar face to the stable of pivots. Bennett spent much of the 2016 season on the team’s practice roster before earning a similar role with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last year. He’s currently battling an injury but is expected to return to the field in the coming days.

The Bombers also added Charles Nelson, a receiver and kick returner who spent four years at the University of Oregon. With the Ducks, the 22-year-old had 124 catches for 1,555 yards and 14 touchdowns, while adding two scores and 2,424 yards on kick returns. He received the Gordon E. Wilson Award, given to Oregon’s top special teams player, in 2014 and the following year earned First-Team Pac-12 All-Conference honours.

LEGGETT STILL OUT: Maurice Leggett has yet to participate in drills through the first six days of camp and there has been no word on when the defensive back/strong-side linebacker will return to the field.

O’Shea said the team’s plan was always to take its time with Leggett, who continues to recover from an Achilles injury he suffered late last season. With Leggett out, Chandler Fenner has taken the first-team reps at strong-side linebacker and there’s little reason to think he’ll be moved, given how well he’s been playing, meaning Leggett will like slot in elsewhere once he does return.

A TIGHT BATTLE: Drew Wolitarsky missed a fourth straight day of camp. O’Shea is explaining the absence of the second-year receiver as a need for rest. With the Bombers planning to start two Canadian receivers, Wolitarsky was considered the front-runner to occupy one of the spots, along with Nic Demski.

Lining up with the first-team offence instead has been this year’s No. 12 overall pick, Rashaun Simonise. Simonise had his best day Friday, reeling in a pair of touchdowns. Already considered to be a close race between Simonise and Wolitarsky, one has to think that competition is only getting tighter.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jeffkhamilton