CALGARY — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers aren’t the only Canadian Football League team interested in signing Jesse Lumsden.
After the Calgary Stampeders practised at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday morning, head coach and general manager John Hufnagel confirmed that he and his staff have had talks with the Canadian running back about his possible return to the CFL.
“I talked to Jesse at Henry Burris’ golf tournament in May and (director of player personnel) John Murphy has continual talks with a lot of people throughout the league throughout the season,” Hufnagel said. “There has been discussions.”
Lumsden, a former first-round draft pick of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, hasn’t played since injuring his shoulder in the first game of the 2009 season while with the Edmonton Eskimos. Edmonton cut him after last season and Lumsden hasn’t played a CFL game since, although he did compete in bobsled at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
With Joffrey Reynolds firmly entrenched as Calgary’s starting running back and Canadian Jon Cornish having a breakout season, Lumsden would first have to pay his dues in order to work his way onto the Stamps’ talent-laden roster.
“When the practice roster opens up (on Oct. 6), maybe that’s a possibility,” said Hufnagel in regards to where Lumsden would fit in with the Stamps.