Daniele Franceschi – Argos Admirals Insider
TORONTO – An injury stricken Argonauts receiving core is set to receive a much-needed boost as the Flyin’ Hawaiian, Chad Owens, will make his highly anticipated return to the gridiron tomorrow night against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The Argos’ versatile slotback has been sidelined for the past five weeks due to an injury suffered against the Calgary Stampeders on July 12th. Owens participated in his second consecutive practice on Thursday afternoon and says he is eager to help ignite a sputtering Argonauts offence.
“I feel good,” proclaimed Owens following Thursday’s practice. “It’s just great to be back out here. Offensively, we’ve been pretty good considering our battle with injuries. As long as I don’t suffer any setbacks, I’ll be ready to roll.”
The 32-year-old Honolulu, Hawaii native resumed football-related activities early last week. He gradually amped up his workouts as the week progressed, ultimately culminating with a complete pre-game warm up routine prior to Sunday’s contest against the visiting B.C. Lions.
Owens reported no pain or soreness following the game day workout thus permitting him to return to practice this week. The Argonauts’ veteran offensive leader cites Sunday’s pre-game activities as a turning point in his recovery. Owens was particularly encouraged by the positive feedback that he received from teammates and coaches.
“That workout gave me enough confidence to believe that I could come out this week and practice,” said Owens. “I tried to go through a regular game day routine and get warmed up. It also felt pretty good to receive a positive response from my teammates. In terms of my confidence level, that certainly helped.”
Owens’ return comes at a time when the Argonauts prepare to embark on a lengthy, month-long road trip. The Argos’ four-game road swing begins tomorrow night at Commonwealth Stadium and includes stops in Hamilton, Vancouver, and Calgary. Despite leading the Eastern Division with a modest 3-5 record, Owens is not satisfied with his team’s performance and affirms that there is still plenty of work to be done in order for the Argos to emerge as Grey Cup contenders by season’s end.
“We’ve been a productive offence but we just need to keep working and remain consistent,” stated Owens. “We need to eliminate the penalties and limit our turnovers. Those are two things that determine wins and losses in this league.”
In times of distress, an individual’s personality comes to the forefront of all their actions. In order to persevere and overcome adversity, one must possess an optimistic mindset. For Owens, it was his unique, innate competitive desire that acted as a stimulant during his road to recovery. Amidst the countless rehabilitation sessions and numerous medical visits, Owens’ confidence never diminished.
“It’s tough, man. This is what we love to do,” commented Owens, referring to the challenges of watching from the sidelines. “You always want to be out there helping your guys compete.”
The former University of Hawaii standout also took a moment to offer some words of encouragement to quarterback Ricky Ray. Owens deemed Ray as the Argos’ undisputed offensive leader and added that the 34-year-old pivot has become a mentor-like figure for many of the Boatmen’s young receivers.
“Ricky is a guy that is always prepared to play,” declared Owens. “As receivers, all we really have to do is make sure we get open because Ricky always puts the ball in the right spot. He’s the ultimate professional and it just goes to show you how good he truly is.”
While Ray may be recognized as a consummate professional, Owens is one of the Canadian Football League’s most dynamic playmakers. In his absence, the Argonauts’ pass-heavy offence struggled to sustain drives and establish a fortified game plan. Furthermore, Owens isn’t interested in discussing the Boatmen’s early-season offensive woes or his injury in Week 3. As of right now, the Flyin’ Hawaiian is solely focused on leading his team to victory against an extremely talented and well-coached Edmonton Eskimos squad that boasts a league-best 6-1 record.
“Like I said, I’m just happy to be back out here (on the field). At the end of the day, the only thing we can control is our work ethic,” said Owens. “I am eager to see what I can do playing against a tough defence and having to make instinctive reads. I’m confident that we can prove all our critics wrong. Above all else, I just hope that my return will be uplifting for our team.”