Saskatchewan Roughriders punter Jon Ryan during training camp practice on July 27, 2021. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

By Britton Gray/ CJME News

Riders veterans find joy in unique training camp

Jul 30, 2021 | 2:17 PM

Despite a camp filled with restrictions and smouldering days, members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders found joy in returning to the field.

Thursday marked the final day of practice during the Riders 2021 CFL training camp.

While he’s been to many NFL and CFL training camps in his career, 39-year-old Jon Ryan is still finding joy in it, especially after a year-and-a-half away from football.

“There’s definitely more yesterdays than tomorrows in my career, that’s for sure, going on 18 years. I think that’s part of the reason I’m just taking it all in, just enjoying it and just having a lot of fun – having more fun this year than I’ve ever had before. That’s part of it knowing there’s not too many of these left,” the punter said. “I’m here to have fun. Winning is fun so we have to win some games but when the fun stops, then I’ll be done.”

And while he’s entering the home stretch of his career, he still doesn’t see a finish line.

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“At this point you kind of just play it one at a time and see how you feel. I would love to play for longer. I have a super supportive wife back in (Los Angeles) that has no problem with me coming and playing here six months a year,” Ryan said. “I just have to approach it one year at a time and see how it goes but right now I’m not thinking of this as my last season.”

While Ryan is having fun on the field, defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy is also enjoying his own brand of fun off the field.

A horror-movie connoisseur, Purifoy has been hauling around a Pennywise The Clown doll that would say soundbites from the movie It.

“Pennywise is my alter-ego. Everyone looks at horror movies and they’re like, ‘I’m scared of clowns,’ but a clown is my favourite. People who think clowns are scary, it gives me enjoyment chasing my teammates around,” Purifoy said. “Like (defensive tackle) Anthony Lanier. He’s scared of clowns and I’ve been chasing him for like a week with a mask on — him and Dan Clark.”

During the COVID pandemic, Purifoy, who is from Florida, was able to continue to work out and get ready for the season – whenever that was going to be.

And with no pre-season, Purifoy said it felt more like a college camp than a pro one.

“It felt like we were playing for our positions. This is probably the longest, toughest camp that we’ve had,” Purifoy said.

In order for the 2021 CFL season to start, players have been dealing with restrictions and quarantines to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. This included a seven-day quarantine at home and seven days in Regina prior to taking the field. Players are also not able to hang out outside of practices.

“At first it was tough. The hardest part was quarantine, it was very tough for a lot of the guys. Just not being allowed to leave your room for the first couple days and then you get to take some walks. But it was normal for me – training camp is meant to be where you’re spending all your time at the facility, you go home and you’re beat tired and you just want to go to bed,” quarterback Cody Fajardo said.

With camp now coming to an end, final cuts are due to the league Friday evening.

Head coach Craig Dickenson admits they needed almost the whole three weeks of camp to decide who would make the green and white squad.

“We watched some guys very closely this last week, especially those two padded practice days. We wanted to see if anyone flashed and a few guys did make an impression and we will see how we go. We took it all the way to the end,” Dickenson said.

And as someone who has been a part of cut days, including getting cut loose by the Oakland Raiders, Fajardo knows it’s a nervous time for players on the bubble.

“It is a tough time and I’ve lived it. I’ve lived it where I’ve got the call and where I haven’t got the call. It is a very stressful time to be one of those bubble guys. I don’t wish that on my worst enemy. You want to be a football player and work so hard to get there and then, unfortunately, you get that call and it’s tough to stomach sometimes,” Fajardo said.

Notes: Defensive tackle/fullback Alain Cimankinda missed practice Thursday after suffering an injury while working out … Wide receiver Justin McInnis (hamstring) and slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert (knee) also missed practice again … Safety Mike Edem (groin) returned to practice.