'I think I'm good': After injury scare, QB Vernon Adams Jr. returns to Calgary Stampeders practice
Article content
Seemingly no ill effects of a hurt head after being sidelined by the Canadian Football League for the entire fourth quarter of Thursday's 23-21 loss to the visiting Montreal Alouettes at McMahon Stadium.
Article content
Article content
And seemingly fit to start for the Stampeders (5-2) in this coming Thursday's visit to play the Ottawa Redblacks (1-6) at TD Place (5:30 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
Article content
'Yeah … I think I'm good,' Adams said. 'We'll talk to the trainers again, and we'll see what's going on.'
Article content
The head injury happened when Alouettes defender Tyrice Beverette put a lick on Adams, with the quarterback trying to scramble for a first down late in the third quarter.
Article content
'You know … I just took a hit — I think — from the side and kind of just rung my ear,' Adams said. 'And I saw the tape, obviously, where I got up a little wobbly.
Article content
'But I felt like I was good enough to go back. But … you know … we've got to do the protocol and play it safe.'
Article content
Whether that means Adams is able to step in under centre for Thursday's rematch with the host Redblacks remains to be seen.
Article content
Remember one of the losses by the Stamps and the Redblacks' only victory of the 2025 CFL season came in their first meeting at McMahon — a 20-12 debacle in monsoon-like conditions.
Article content
Article content
'Yeah … I mean, he did do quite a bit (Monday) in getting himself back and was very positive,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, of his starting QB. 'And like I said, I think he has good energy. We do obviously let him handle it, as well as our medical people.
Article content
Article content
Three other Stampeders injured during the contest didn't practise Sunday.
Article content
Dynamic Canadian receivers Damien Alford and Jalen Philpot have muscle injuries, said Dickenson on Sunday. Alford went out after his first and only catch of the game, with what looked like a hamstring injury.
Article content
Cornerback Adrian Greene was also hurt in the loss, leaving a few defensive plays after his interception in the second quarter, with a lower-body issue, as well.
Article content
'We definitely had our share of muscle tweaks across the board — that was unfortunate,' added Dickenson. 'I need them in there. And you gotta not only play, you gotta play 60 plays. So we'll see how we can get the roster shaped up when the week ends.
Article content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Canadian women to face Japan twice in Nagasaki in FIFA November international window
The Canadian women's soccer team will play two matches against Japan in Nagasaki during the November FIFA international window. Canada, ranked ninth in the world, will face No. 8 Japan on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2. The first game will take place at Nagasaki Stadium City (Peace Stadium) and the second at Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki in nearby Isahaya. "We're excited for the opportunity to face Japan," Canada coach Casey Stoney said in a statement. "These are the kind of challenges we want as we build toward our 2026 World Cup qualification journey. "Japan is one of the most technically gifted and tactically disciplined teams in the world, and playing them on their home soil will demand the best from us. We're looking forward to the opportunity and the lessons it will bring." Japan holds an 8-4-4 edge in the all-time series between the two that dates back to 1995. Canada is winless in the last three meetings (0-2-1), blanked 3-0 the last time they met, at the 2023 SheBelieves Cup. Canada's last victory was a 2-0 decision at the 2018 Algarve Cup.
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Blue Jays banking on Louis Varland bringing power to bullpen - Sunday slip up aside
If there is a wildcard in the Blue Jays aspirations for the remaining two months of the season, it would seem as though it has nothing to do with regressing to that form of playoff qualification. Article content No, the wildcard of interest at this point for the first-place team may be an under-the-radar trade deadline acquisition. Article content As much as the marquee from a Toronto perspective was the deal with Cleveland that brought potential ace starter Shane Bieber here, a somewhat unheralded reliever from the Twins may be critical to the team's big October ambitions. Article content Louis Varland, a hard-throwing 27-year-old righty, was acquired to be an influential (and much-needed) arm for the back end of a bullpen in need of some more shutdown sizzle. Article content The upside is in his stuff, his attitude and his velocity. Article content The downside is in the precarious world of being a big-league reliever, a reality Varland endured in Sunday's demoralizing loss to the Royals. Article content Article content After recording two outs on just four pitches in his eighth-inning appearance, Varland allowed back-to-back hits enabling the visitors to tie the game on the way to a 7-4 extra-innings win that continued the Jays recent wobbles. Article content That blip aside, the Jays believe they have an arm that can thrive in high-leverage situations, a big reason he was a focus of Toronto general manager Ross Atkins at last week's deadline. Article content 'He's all business,' manager John Schneider said of his first impressions of Varland, who came here along with Ty France in a deal that sent Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas back to the Twin Cities. 'I love his demeanour. In conversation with him and with (pitching coach Pete Walker) and he's ready for anything. Article content 'There's no surprises. Velo. Curveball. And he's a really good athlete too. But I like his demeanour on the mound.' Article content Article content There were some flashes of that potential in Varland's initial appearance the day after the trade. Coming in during a blowout at the hands of the Royals (and unlike Sunday's stumble), Varland retired all three hitters and did so with confidence and apparent ease. Article content That attacking mindset is what originally attracted Atkins to Varland, a pitcher the GM says has been on his radar for a couple of years. Article content 'We were very aggressive in trying to acquire him,' Atkins said on trade deadline day. 'He has been very effective this year as a reliever. Has as good a fastball as you can find and as good of a curveball as you can find. He's extremely aggressive. He's coming after you and that's attractive to us. (He) immediately impacts our bullpen in a significant way.' Article content It's clear that the Jays wanted — and needed — some back-of-the-bullpen power to team up with closer Jeff Hoffman and ideally the return to health and efficiency of Yimi Garcia. Article content Based on his first full season in that role, Varland seems like he could be suited to the assignment. He certainly relishes the opportunity and employs a mound presence to match. Article content 'First off, it's easier to get three outs rather than 15 to 21 outs (as a starter),' Varland said of his transition from starter to reliever. 'I changed some mechanical stuff to be more deceptive, so I think that's helped me get more outs. Article content 'I handle (the late-game pressure) pretty well. At first I thought I'd get nervous, but I'm pretty calm out there, collected. Basically just throw your best pitches and stick to the game plan and things should normally work out. Article content 'I would say I'm a pitcher who goes right after hitters. It's not like I'm nitpicking certain areas, especially my fastball. I like the challenge of it.' Article content The hope from a Jays perspective is that Varland will be a potent fit late in games. Like many bullpens around the majors, the Toronto unit has been hard used to this point. And, looking forward, bullpens need to be high-octane heavy come playoff time. Article content Varland said that in his initial conversations with Schneider and Walker, his new team has made it clear they are counting on the Saint Paul, Minn., native to be a key component. Article content 'They want me here,' Varland said. 'They want to use me (in important) situations. We've got a really good team and the team just got better (at the deadline).
National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
'Greatest swimmer of all time': Toronto swimmers cheer on Summer McIntosh after medal haul
With four world championship gold medals and a single bronze draped around her neck, Summer McIntosh is doing more than just winning on an international level — she is inspiring young swimmers in her hometown as well. Article content On Sunday, McIntosh marked the end of her journey at the World Aquatics championships in Singapore with her fourth gold medal, winning the women's 400-metre individual medley in about four minutes and 25 seconds. Article content Article content Article content As McIntosh topped the podium, fellow young swimmers at Lakeshore Swim Club in Etobicoke, Ont., a Toronto neighbourhood west of downtown, cheered on. Article content Club president Tara Smith said they reminisced about McIntosh swimming for the club in her early years. Article content 'A number of her records still stand in our record books and so our swimmers see it every day when they go into practice,' said Smith. Article content Sunday's win marked McIntosh's fifth overall medal at the championships, joining her gold in the 200 butterfly, 200 medley and 400 freestyle and bronze in the 800 freestyle. Article content Her lasting impact on the Etobicoke swim club is seen at its training facility at the Gus Ryder Pool and Health Club. A plaque for the club's grassroots development program, of which McIntosh was a part, greets visitors. Article content 'We're really proud of her,' said Smith. 'I know she has really big expectations of herself, but she does a fantastic job representing our country and representing herself.' Article content McIntosh now has 13 career medals at the world championships — the most of any Canadian — including eight gold. Article content Article content After last year's Olympics, Smith said the overall interest in the club's pre-competitive program increased — something she attributes to McIntosh. Article content She said McIntosh creates a lot of excitement in the sport and inspires the kids at the swim club. Article content On social media, McIntosh supports her old club by interacting with swimmers' posts. Article content 'It's very exciting for the kids to see that, whether it's just comments or a heart,' Smith said. Article content Swimmers from Toronto Swim Club delayed their Saturday morning workouts and gathered around a screen at the University of Toronto to watch McIntosh's 800-metre freestyle showdown with American Katie Ledecky. Article content Though McIntosh came up third in a tight race behind Ledecky and Australia's Lani Pallister, swimmers were just as excited to watch her compete and take home another medal, said the club's national head coach Bill O'Toole. Article content 'It's just so inspiring to see a Canadian take on the world like that,' said O'Toole. 'In my opinion, she will be the greatest swimmer of all time.'
