Evan Daum
Edmonton Journal
He may not have been on the field Monday for the Edmonton Eskimo practice, but don’t sound the alarm bells on Fred Stamps‘ health.
The slotback took the day off as the Eskimos began a prolonged week of preparation for Monday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts.
“I don’t have any injuries that you could pinpoint. It’s just an achy body,” Stamps said. “I took a couple of shots running around, that’s all it is.
“It’s just maintaining (my health). If you get out there and run full speed, you can shake your body up even more.
” It’s a few days after the game, your body is still a little sore.”
With an off-day scheduled Tuesday and major preparation for their game at Toronto starting Wednesday, Stamps’ extra day off came at a perfect time.
Starting Monday, the Eskimos will play three games in the span of a week and a half, with the seemingly always-pivotal Labour Day home-and-home series with the Calgary Stampeders looming.
“We have two extra days. Fred took a lot of pretty vicious hits this (past) game, so he’s pretty sore,” Eskimo head coach Kavis Reed said.
“A lot of rookies don’t know, but the next few weeks are a big couple of weeks,” Stamps said. “You’re starting to feel (the importance of the games) in the air now.”
Boyd gets ready for Toronto homecoming
While a 10-day gap between games makes for a marathon lead-up to the matchup with the Argos, running back Cory Boyd isn’t about to complain.
Boyd is happy to have a full week of practice to get ready for his Toronto homecoming after joining Edmonton early last week and having only a few days of practice and preparation before his Esks debut against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday.
“It helps me get my body back for one; two, to also get in that playbook and get a little more time with my film studies,” Boyd said.
“I know a little bit about this defence, because I practised against them a lot during the season, so I can actually help my running backs as far as letting them know in terms of what they need to look after, who’s who and what the personnel is.”
Rottier has ’50-50′ shot at playing Argos
Offensive lineman Simeon Rottier is getting closer to a return to the lineup.
Rottier, who injured his left elbow in a game against the BC Lions on July 20, worked in full pads at Monday’s practice.
The University of Alberta product went head-to-head in drills on the sideline with defensive lineman Almondo Sewell, who is continuing to rehab a hamstring injury.
“There’s a chance. Right now, it’s probably 50-50,” Reed said of Rottier playing against Toronto.
“We’re going to work him in practice this week and see where he is.”
edaum@edmontonjournal. com
twitter.com/evandaum facebook.com/ edmontonjournalsports
