AROUND THE CAMPS

EDMONTON

Training Camp Recap: Day 1

Transactions
Added:
#71 WR/KR Denarius Appling*
#15 DB Deion Belue*
#56 DE D.J. Bryant*
#88 WR Skye Dawson*
#62 OL David Griffin*
#79 LB Dawud Lane*
#24 DB Harold Mutobola
Retired: OL Steve Myddelton.

*International.

Not Practicing
#17 WR Shamawd Chambers
#28 RB Aaron Milton
#65 OL Simeon Rottier

Quotables
Quarterback Mike Reilly on the first day of camp: “It feels great to be back on the field. It’s been a long time since November that’s for sure. Day one is always fun because everyone is super excited. There’s a ton of energy out there but what’s a little different this year is there wasn’t as many mistakes.”

Eskimos Head Coach Chris Jones on the type of players they are looking for on this team: “They better stand out and they better do things the right way and they better be a great person. Those are the things that we are looking for.”

Monday’s Practice
Session 1: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Session 2: 11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Fuhr Sports Park
Cameras are permitted to film between 9:15 -9:35 a.m. and 11:15 -11:25 a.m.
All times are approximate and subject to change.
Media availability with Coach Jones and players will follow practice on field.

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CALGARY

TRAINING CAMP RECAP: DAY 1

Day 1 of the Stampeders’ main training camp consisted of morning and afternoon practices at McMahon Stadium. Here is a summary of today’s activity:

A total of 74 players took the field on Sunday including 54 players who were with the Stampeders in 2014.

Transactions
The Stampeders signed national long-snapper Kyle Tyo and international receiver Maudrecus Humphrey
National defensive lineman Corey Mace and international defensive lineman Micah Johnson were placed on the suspended list
Quote from head coach and general manager John Hufnagel

“(Corey Mace and Micah Johnson) need some time before they get to training camp. We expect them further on. Corey has a back issue and he had a procedure and he needs some time.”

Notable
National DL Ben D’Aguilar and international LB Glenn Love start training camp on the injury list as they continue rehabbing from injuries suffered last season
International DB Jamar Wall (personal) was excused from the first day of camp
National DL Junior Turner (finger) will be held out of contact drills for the first week of camp
International DB Fred Bennett will undergo a CT scan today and could start practicing as soon as tomorrow
Tomorrow’s schedule

There are two more practices on Monday – the morning session starts at 9:05 a.m. while the afternoon practice begins at 4:20 p.m. As per league policy, ENG cameras will be permitted to shoot from approximately 9:05 to 9:25 a.m. during morning session and from 4:20 to 4:50 p.m. during afternoon practice.

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B.C.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. (CP) – Travis Lulay drops back to pass and launches a ball down field.

At another training camp with another quarterback, the play might be forgotten before the next snap.

But as the B.C. Lions gathered for their first practice on Sunday morning, it was a further signal that the club’s veteran pivot is ready to put 18 months of shoulder-injury frustration behind him.

“I was pleased with what I was able to do today,” said Lulay. “There wasn’t a throw that I looked at that I couldn’t make on account of my shoulder.

“We’re going to keep a close eye on it.”

As they should.

Lulay has suffered crippling injuries to his throwing shoulder each of the last two seasons. The first was corrected by surgery, but when he finally returned to the lineup last year following a rehabilitation that stretched into September, Lulay re-injured the joint in his only start and again found himself on the sidelines.

The 31-year-old opted against undergoing another procedure and instead chose a rehab program under new head coach Jeff Tedford that included throwing from different angles and falling onto mats.

It’s only the first day of camp, but the Lions were encouraged by what they saw.

“He’s making progress. It’s a process for him,” said Tedford. “He’s worked himself to where he is right now. We’ve just got to keep monitoring. He’ll do more and more, and get stronger and stronger as we go.”

A former Grey Cup MVP, Lulay made a number of different throws during the morning practice, including roll outs to the wide side of the field and deep ins.

“Those are the challenging throws that our league presents and I was able to make them today for the most part,” he said. “A few throws didn’t quite have the intensity that I like, but it’s Day 1. That’s going to happen regardless. It’s getting your feet under you and getting your eyes right.”

Another player back on the field after having the 2014 season cut short by injury was Andrew Harris, the star Canadian running back who suffered a dislocated ankle in September.

Tedford was hoping to ease Harris into camp, but with two other backs down with early injuries the 28-year-old was right in the thick of things.

“It’s good to get that rust knocked off and just get in the motions of cutting and doing things that I haven’t been able to do,” said Harris. “It’s the confidence in situations where you don’t really know how strong (the ankle) is yet.”

Lulay and Harris are among the veterans at camp getting to know Tedford after he replaced the fired Mike Benevides in December. A former head coach at the University of California, Tedford is looking to implement a high-tempo offence, something that Harris welcomed following a sneak peak at April’s minicamp.