Chris Getzlaf returns to Riders’ practice roster

It’s home sweet home for Chris Getzlaf.

After two seasons away from the Saskatchewan Roughriders the Regina born and raised receiver is back in the fold with the green and white.

“Couldn’t feel better,” Getzlaf said about what it’s like to be back. “Get a chance to come back where it pretty much started for my career.”

Getzlaf played the 2016 season with the Edmonton Eskimos and had been on their practice roster this season.

A couple of weeks ago Getzlaf said he asked for his release which was granted by Edmonton.

“I was on the practice roster for about a month there and I didn’t see that roster spot changing so it becomes pretty expensive when you’re paying for a spot at home and paying for a spot out there,” Getzlaf explained.

“I just thought it would be best to take my chances of landing somewhere else and hopefully it would be here and it ended up being here.”

He said it transpired over the last week and a half or so and started with a conversation with head coach Chris Jones.

“It was a great discussion, real open and honest … and I’m super happy to be here,” Getzlaf said.

“(Getzlaf) came in and wanted to be a part of what we’re doing and certainly he figures into what we’re doing and he’s just an outstanding individual,” Jones said.

Getzlaf will sport number 71 as his long time number, 89, currently belongs to fellow receiver Duron Carter.

Getzlaf said he does have an attachment to the number 71 from early on in his career.

“To be honest, I wore 71 in training camp in Hamilton my very first year, so that’s kind of come full circle when I put it on today,” Getzlaf said.

The Canadian wide receiver spent the majority of his CFL career with the Riders, originally signing with the team’s practice roster in 2007.

He was named the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian when the team won the 2013 Grey Cup.