On Sunday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were on the field as a team for the first time in 2025 for day one of main training camp.
Among the veterans returning to the Griffiths Stadium turf was offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick. The 34-year-old's 2024 season ended July 13 in a Week 6 match-up in B.C. He suffered a season-ending quad injury that required surgery. 302 days later, Hardrick was back on the field with his Riders teammates for day one of training camp.
“I couldn't sleep last night — very, very emotional. Dreamed about this for the last 10 months, didn't even seem possible at one time when I couldn't even bend my leg. My wife had to help me off the toilet and help me off the bed. It didn't even seem like this day would come.”
That said, Hardrick, a 10-year Canadian Football League veteran, never considered retiring from the game.
“No, never thought about it. Don't want to think until J.O. [Jeremy O’Day] tells me not to show up or someone in the league tells me not to show up, I'm gonna keep showing up.”
Hardrick’s rehabilitation to return hit a crossroads after Christmas.
“January and February were a little rough. Finally, I took the brace off, started running a little bit and had to relearn how to walk and squat. It was more mental than physical, but to be out here, man, it's amazing.”
Roughriders’ quarterback Trevor Harris is happy to have Hardrick in the huddle.
“He says little comments that just make you smile and laugh and make you understand how great he is to have in the huddle because he's so businesslike. He's so intense, but he makes it fun, and he's one of the guys; you're happy he's on your side.”
Hardrick’s enthusiasm to be back on the field could be heard from the sidelines as he returned to vocally encouraging his teammates.
"I tried not to talk as much, but the juices do get flowing, you can't control yourself. I'm here to be a great leader, try to be one of the guys to lean on and lead by example.”
Hardrick is excited about the group that he is rejoining.
“We love each other a little bit more, we know how to push each other a little bit more. Last year was like, I don't know you as much, I don't wanna step on a toe. Now it's like, I know your kid's name, what you like to eat, your why, and all that stuff matters. And the offensive line, we came in a week early to get to know each other even more and get to knock the rust off and get out here and play fast.”
Hardrick, a native of Batesville, Mississippi, is aware that he is returning to an essentially intact roster from the 2024 Roughriders, who fell a game short of a berth in the Grey Cup. He is aware that there are heightened expectations.
“I think the expectation is always in Saskatchewan, everything here is about winning. So it means a lot, it means more here and I wouldn't want any other way.”
Hardrick and the Roughriders continue training camp in Saskatoon. On Saturday, May 17 the team will hold its annual Green and White scrimmage at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
Saskatchewan opens the preseason on Saturday, May 24 in Winnipeg.
