Philip Blake close to returning to Riders’ lineup

Philip Blake has dealt with a lot in his career, but the broken leg he suffered this season was a first.

Blake spent two seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals before coming to the CFL in 2014.

The Canadian offensive lineman has suited up for 65 games in Canada since then. That included five this season at left guard before he broke his left leg in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 38-25 win over the B.C. Lions on July 20.

“(It) was the first surgery of my career so that was kind of nerve-wracking,” said the 33-year-old Blake, whose team is to meet the Lions on Friday in Vancouver. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.

Blake said he didn’t know his leg was broken when he was injured in the first quarter of the July 20 game.

“I knew there was something wrong because it felt a little stiff, but when they did the X-rays right when I got inside the building, they told me it was broken,” Blake said.

And so began a 16-week process.

“There was things that happened that got my mind away from the injury,” Blake said. “My wife had our third child so I went home for three weeks and got to spend time with my family.

“There was a time when I couldn’t walk so I had to get past that stage and then there was a time I couldn’t put no weight (on it). There’s just different stages and getting through the stages and taking it like that — don’t focus on the end process.”

The end of the long process appears to be in sight for Blake. He rejoined the Roughriders at practice on Monday and head coach Craig Dickenson said he expects Blake to travel with the team to B.C.

“Based on how he has practised, I think he’s ready to go,” Dickenson said. “We may have to rotate him in.”

The addition of Blake means either Dakoda Shepley or Dariusz Bladek will be taken off the roster. Shepley has suited up in all 15 games this season while Bladek has dressed for 11. Bladek dealt with a knee injury that forced him to miss time earlier in the season.

Dickenson said it’s going to be a tough conversation to have with one of the two linemen.

“We’re very fortunate to have the depth we do on the front, especially on the O-line, and the reality is you’re going to sit a good player to get a good player on,” Dickenson said. “That’s just something that they’ll be disappointed to hear but they understand.”

The offensive line has been a strength for the Roughriders, despite myriad players having to step up due to injuries or roster decisions. The group has given up the second-fewest number of sacks in 2019 (30) and has helped the offence score a league-high 23 rushing touchdowns.

Dickenson admitted there’s always a risk that the group’s chemistry will get messed up by inserting a player, but he doesn’t see that happening with the addition of Blake.

“(Blake’s) a good team guy and really one of our leaders,” Dickenson said. “Adding Philip Blake to the mix, I think, actually strengthens our chemistry.”

Blake’s just thankful to be able to get a chance to get back out on the field.

“I just wanted to play football,” he said. “I can only control what I can control and bring what the coaches believe I can bring. I don’t want to go out there and do too much and obviously not too little.”

Notes: Defensive lineman Micah Johnson (ankle) didn’t practise for a third straight day. Despite that, Dickenson said the Roughriders aren’t ready to make Johnson inactive yet … Defensive lineman Zack Evans (flu) didn’t practise Wednesday but is still expected to make the trip … The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday.