DURANT COMING BACK BETTER THAN EVER
REGINA (CP) – Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant says he’ll be ready to return from a season-ending Achilles tendon injury by January.
Durant suffered the injury in the Riders’ season-opening loss to Winnipeg.
But in a rare bit of good news for the struggling Roughriders, the 2013 Grey Cup-winning quarterback said his recovery is ahead of schedule.
“I’m feeling good. If I can stay healthy, I still feel like I’m the best quarterback in this league and I’m out to prove that,” Durant told reporters Monday.
He said the next move is to work on more explosive exercises, such as sprinting. He plans to spend the off-season working out in Regina.
The 33-year-old shrugged off doubts about his future.
“Everyone that I’ve seen go down from an Achilles has come back and is still a productive player, so there’s no question that I’ll be in that same boat,” he said.
“But like I said, I won’t be the same player, I’ll be a lot better.”
Durant missed part of the 2014 season after suffering a torn tendon in the elbow of his throwing arm that September. He had surgery to repair it and in April was looking forward to getting back on the gridiron.
Watching from the sidelines again has been tough.
“It’s been crushing just watching the team go through this each and every week and not being able to help,” said Durant.
“I really think that I could really help this team succeed this year, so it’s sucks watching it. But it’s a learning experience for me. It humbled me and it just has me fired up getting ready for next year.”
The Riders have also struggled to a dismal 2-15 record this season without Durant.
Injuries hit the team hard.
After Durant went down, backup quarterback Kevin Glenn stepped in. Then Glenn was felled by a torn pectoral muscle in Saskatchewan’s loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 26. Several other key players are out too, including defensive back Terrell Maze and linebacker Shea Emry.
In August, the Roughriders fired head coach Corey Chamblin and vice president of football operations and general manager Brendan Taman.
Durant said it will be a team effort to rebuild for next season, but he believes he’s one of the key pieces.
“I’m the guy. I mean I feel like I’m the guy that could take this team to the next level, get this team out of this slump. You know, I’m confident in my abilities.”
With the two injuries he's suffered being pretty major, and sitting out for nearly a year and a half of competitive play sadly he's gong to be a second string at best. Great guy, but not the future of this club.
As for Meyers, well, that pic says it all about that guy.
Nice facial expression Meyers!!
I don't miss Duke on the sportscage, if only a few of your other guests would follow.
Sorry doubles, great guy but past the point of being a go to #1 in this league. All the best Darian
Hence why Meyers think's he's a big deal…….yup, Regina Global newscasts…..#bigtime.
Darian's done, moving on to hopefully the new future of good things to come with a new GM, new coach and an actual future sustainable winning plan.
How is ol' Wes Mantooth (Myers) anyways? Probably kind of lonely down at the station with Heather Anderson and Jill Morgan moved on to better things. Only guy that loves a camera more than Myers is Remple.
A women sports reporter!! In Saskatchewan?? The world is going into a hell basket.
Only 8 years younger than Henry Burris, so maybe there is a better future ahead for Rider Nation.
No such thing as Rider Nation, quit trying to be a wannabe. Sorry, only Riderville.
And he was supposed to be back last year for the playoffs too …. right ?
Rider nation can't wait to have the number one QB back in the league. The team needs its leader.
He is all leader!
Doubt him all you want, ( very likely, just as you have all along) he'll be back and will lead this team for years to come. All DD does is win.
Sad to watch this team media grab, serious injury.
Can't wait to get Darian back on the field. Definitely one of the best QB's and will prove it once again in 2016.
How gullible.
Boy Darian I sure hope you are right and I hope the new GM can build an O-line that can protect you and find a couple of 6'4" receivers to balance out the Dakota twins.
There is every reason to believe DD. If he says 6000 yards is doable he will do it. However, he can't play D or special teams. 6000 yards will be only good for the record book as special teams and D give up 7000 yards plus. 49 points is not enough when the rest of the team gives up 50.
I still love our nice green license plates that say Rider Nation on them.
Sad to know that the Redblacks can never have a Redblack Nation license plate.
The green kool-aid is flowing today!
Good to hear from DD. And people … never sell that guy short!
Bring him back for the final game in Montreal , even with crutches he would probably be better than what we have.
Is it not about time for the Ottawa football franchise to fold? I mean is that not their history? Fold, get help and come back with a new name. That covers the city perfectly.