WELCOME, WILLIAM: Powell good to go as Ottawa Redblacks get ready for red-hot Lions

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The news wasn’t all good for the Ottawa Redblacks Sunday: With a big welcome back to running back William Powell and safety Justin Howell, there was also an injury to defensive back Abdul Kanneh.

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With a bit more than a week to digest the second of back-to-back losses to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Redblacks have taken a deep breath, recalibrated, refocused and moved on to the next obstacle in their CFL schedule — a Thursday night home matchup with the BC Lions.

And while hosting the Lions may have seemed like an easier task the past two seasons — BC won five games in each of 2019 and 2021 — it’s going to take a strong effort for the Redblacks to win their first game of the season. The Lions have stormed out of the gate, scoring a whopping 103 points while allowing just 18 in wins over the Edmonton Elks (59-15) and Toronto Argonauts (44-3). The Redblacks lost 19-17 and 19-12 to the Bombers before a bye week in their schedule.

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Ottawa returned to practice Sunday at Carleton University with a couple of big additions taking first-team reps — Powell (who hasn’t played in 2022) and Howell (returning early from the six-game injured list). In the second half of the two-hour practice, Kanneh was taken away with a leg injury that sure didn’t look good.

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Asked about the injury to Kanneh — there should be an update Monday — Redblacks head coach Paul LaPolice said: “We’re going to face injuries during a season. We’ll have guys fill in and figure out where the best matchup is.”

It will play itself out over the next few days, but there seems like a good chance the 34-year-old Powell, who had seasons of 733 and 1,093 yards rushing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after playing in Ottawa from 2015-18 (he had 1,362 yards on the ground in 2018), will line up as Ottawa’s starter against BC The Redblacks got good production out Devonte Williams (85 yards rushing on 12 carries) against Winnipeg a week and a half ago.

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It was precaution with an Achilles injury that prevented Powell from making his 2022 debut. Now, he says he’s anxious to return to the lineup in a city where he enjoyed so much success through the early years of his CFL career.

“I’m 100 per cent ready to go,” said Powell. “I had to get my legs back under me last weekend. This week, I’m full go. I’m excited to get back out there and be back in my Canadian home creating big plays. It was big-time frustrating — coming back to where it all started in Canada for me, then being hit with a setback and having to fight through that adversity (in training camp) the first couple of weeks. But it creates an even bigger feeling this week, it builds a bigger moment for me. I’ve always thrived under the biggest moment and the most pressure so I’m ready to go.”

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Even after leaving as a free agent for the Riders, Powell kept Ottawa as his off-season home. So Ottawa was a natural fit for him when he was deciding where to play in 2022. He signed with the Redblacks as a free agent early in February. Powell said he’s grown a lot since Redblacks fans last saw him wearing Ottawa’s colors in 2018.

“Definitely my first years in the league, I was trying to figure out the Canadian game, the different intricacies,” he said. “I’ve gotten more experienced and familiar with the schemes. At this point, I feel like I still have all the same athletic attributes (I had back then), but with a little more experience.”

Asked about Powell and what he could bring to his team’s running game, LaPolice said: “Willie P is dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s got great feet, a lower center of gravity and he’s got great patience. He’s just a good, veteran football player.”

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The Lions have turned heads in both of their first two games. Of course, it is an 18-game season, but still. Quarterback Nathan Rourke, a Canadian, has been sensational. The 24-year-old passed for 436 yards Saturday, breaking the record for Canadian most passing yards for a quarterback (Gerry Dattilio threw for 427 yards way back in 1981).

“Nathan’s a talented player, he seems to be very comfortable in what they’re calling for him,” said LaPolice. “What’s impressed me is how quickly he processes, makes decisions and gets the ball out of his hands from him. Sometimes younger quarterbacks rely on their legs early in their careers. I get that Nathan is playing really well, but their team is playing really well. Their offense is doing a very good job. Their defense has been outstanding for two games. outstanding. (BC is) a good football team. (The Lions) have a veteran unit, they have speed on defense, they’re big on special teams…”

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THE END AROUND: RB Brendan Gillanders (hip) was a full participant in Sunday’s practice; RB Jackson Bennett (quadricep), OL Hunter Steward (knee) and OL Dino Boyd (foot) were limited … The Redblacks announced they have signed 6-foot-4, 255-pound American defensive lineman Duke Ejiofor, a 2018 sixth-round draft pick of the Houston Texans. After getting six solo tackles, three assisted tackles and a sack in 2018, he had a season-ending torn Achilles injury in 2019, then a torn ACL in 2020. He signed a reserve futures contract with the Atlanta Falcons early this year, then was released in March … Former Redblacks OL Colin Kelly was dealt by the Edmonton Elks to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for a seventh-round draft pick. The 32-year-old was with the Redblacks from 2014-15 … Riders WR Shaq Evans is expected to miss at least 6-8 weeks with a fractured ankle. The Redblacks play in Regina July 8.