Travis Lulay has never been one to jump to conclusions or look beyond the next play. So, as you might expect, any talk of him potentially being finished as a player after suffering a torn ACL and some damage to the meniscus in his knee would be slightly premature.
The soon to be 34-year old spoke with reporters for the first time since receiving the news that his 2017 season is indeed over. First things first: the rehab will determine his future.
“I don’t think it’s fair for me to even go there yet,” said Lulay on the prospects of next season.
“You’re so emotional right after something like this happens. It would be easy to say ‘no’ or ‘I am going to buckle down and crank it out.’ I have hardly absorbed it all yet, it’s still pretty raw. Just in fairness to me, I wouldn’t say this is the end of the road. I have to getting healthy regardless. That’s where my initial process goes is just let’s put the plan in place and mentally approach this the best way I can to get healthy.”
“Knowing Travis, he’ll bounce back and he’ll work hard. If football is still in his career and still in his heart, he’ll be there,” said GM/head coach Wally Buono.
“I think that (playing again) is something he has to decide for himself, I can’t influence that at all. Football is a cruel game, as we all know, and when you step on the field those things are all a part of it.”
The 2011 CFL Most Outstanding Player admits his birth certificate may be the one thing holding him back from yet another injury recovery, but truth be told, there has been several quarterbacks not as talented as number 14 who played until they pushed the age of 40.
“It’s obviously different when you’re 22,” reminded Lulay.
“That (age) will play into the whole thing.”
In his Friday post-game media conference, Buono was adamant he wants Lulay to still be involved. The hope is for the veteran to travel to Calgary for Saturday’s game and be involved as an extra coach, day in and day out. Lulay already has a head start after being on the field and helping Jonathon Jennings and the QB’s during Tuesday’s session.
“Being out here is good for me. We have a couple new quarterbacks in the room and so that part of my role maybe gets amped up from what it’s been,” said Lulay.
“I want to be here in the quarterback room. It helps me heal mind, body and soul. I want to be able to do all of that as long as my body allows me before and after surgery.”
This injury ordeal means the keys to the offence belong to Jennings with Alex Ross as his backup. The third string QB would now be a combination of newcomers Mitchell Gale and Quinn Epperly, both added to the club’s practice roster on Tuesday morning. Buono is not yet willing to commit to who will dress behind Jennings and Ross right away.
At any rate, Jennings understands no matter how cruel the game can be, he has to run with it now. The franchise depends on it.
“You just have to go out there and play. Honestly, when I was a backup I prepped like I was the starter,” said the third-year Lions pivot.
“I came into work every day with the same mentality I always have and came into the game feeling like it could happen on the first play. Obviously I learned that lesson when I went down against Hamilton. I felt that, if need be, I could come in and provide. I don’t think that changes anything going forward.”
Jennings was the first to admit officially finding out the severity of Lulay’s knee injury was as tough on him as it was on anybody.
“You just think ‘no way possible for that to happen,’” said Jennings of his friend’s latest setback.
“It was strange because I saw him go down and I am just sitting there praying and honestly just hoping he was okay. At the same time, I have people yelling at me ‘get warmed up!’ It’s always tough to see a teammate go down, but even more so when it’s one of your good friends.”
“It’s funny how things work sometimes. I got the opportunity to come back in, clear my mind and get back to playing good football.”
“Good football” may be slightly understating it. Jennings looked very much like the player he was developing into last season after completing 22 of 299 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the 41-18 romp of Montreal. This week in Calgary presents a whole different challenge, but as the old adage goes: “you have to start somewhere.”
“Anytime you put up points like that, it’s going to be good,” explained Jennings.
“That comes with the defence playing well and the special teams making plays. Obviously we scored a touchdown on special teams that really built some momentum going into the half and we started out fast. We did a good job in all facets of the offence.”
His head coach doesn’t expect any psychological damage has been done after Jennings was benched in favour of Lulay following the recent bye week and struggles since returning from his shoulder injury in July.
“Jon was our starter and we made a decision based on what we thought was, at that point, was best to help us and help Jon,” said the CFL all-time wins leader.
“Let’s just say it worked. Jon responded as I think everybody in the organization felt he would. He wouldn’t take it as a negative, he wouldn’t take it as a slap in the face, he would just take it as something that was necessary to help the club win the football game.”
Everybody knows his role. That’s a big reason you saw flashes of a big turnaround in Buono’s first year back on the sidelines and it’s also cause for optimism as the 2017 Lions try and prove they belong in this beast of a Western Division. There is plenty to prove against the red hot Stampeders this weekend.
Lulay will be the club’s biggest cheerleader, now matter how bittersweet it may feel.
“It’s still kind of hard to process,” added the eight-year veteran.
“I don’t want to get to the ‘why.’ There’s no good ‘why.’ It just is the way it is. At this point you just have an option of how I want to mentally approach getting healthy, but obviously it’s heartbreaking right? I don’t want to get to the point where I feel sorry for myself or go ‘man, this isn’t fair.’ It happens to guys all the time. I’ve just maybe taken more than my fair share, but that’s just the way it’s been.”
The bottom line? You never count out Travis Lulay. Especially when you see how much of an elite level he can still play at. Whether it’s behind centre or on the sidelines they will be in good hands.
Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com