‘It’s been a long time coming’: Harty returns to football after 2018 injury

It’s been a long road to recovery for Jake Harty.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver is back on the field after suffering an ACL tear in his right knee at training camp in 2018.

“It’s been a long time coming. I always knew that I wanted to play and keep on going. I’ve seen so many other guys pull through with these types of injuries and come out even better,” Harty said after Tuesday’s training-camp workout at Mosaic Stadium.

“I wanted to prove that I could come back and be a better version of what I was and it is just a blessing to be here, especially after a pandemic.

“First time putting on the pads in four years was today, so it was awesome being out there and smashing heads again. It’s something that I love doing and hopefully (I can) keep doing it all year.”

One of those players who shared a similar path was former Riders receiver Rob Bagg. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in 2011 and tore up his right knee the next season. Bagg went on to play six more seasons.

“I see the similarity, growing up and watching him compete and see what he went through. When it happened to me in 2018, I definitely talked to him. Rob’s a great guy,” said Harty, 30.

“That’s another kind of motivational thing. You see guys like him who have gone through that kind of stuff and you know that you can go through it as well and come back just as strong.”

Harty signed with the Riders in 2018 after spending three seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks. During his time there, he caught 36 passes for 307 yards.

But the Calgary product has yet to play a snap for the Green and White after suffering the injury early in camp in 2018.

During the recovery process, a replacement ligament in his knee exploded, forcing him to undergo surgery again and miss 2019 as well. He missed the 2020 season because it was cancelled due to COVID-19.

During his second missed season, Harty decided to take an assistant receivers coaching position with the University of Calgary Dinos — the U Sports team for which he starred.

“Fortunately we won the Vanier Cup that year. It was an amazing journey with those guys but even coaching there really gave me that fire to come back strong and compete,” Harty said.

Harty said he never lost the will to try and come back to the CFL.

“I knew I felt confident, I knew I still had it in me and I had a lot to give,” Harty said.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said it’s nice to see Harty back on the field after everything he has gone through.

“He’s one of my favourites. When he came out in the draft, everyone knew he was a really good receiver but he was also a really good special-teams player so he’s tough, he’s the kind of guy you want on your team. I think you can win with guys like Jake Harty,” Dickenson said.

“Anytime you get hurt and people start to doubt whether you can play or not, I think it motivates you and it obviously has motivated him a lot.”

And while Harty has been impressive in camp so far — catching almost everything thrown at him — he’s got a lot of competition when it comes to Canadian receivers with the Riders.

Along with Harty, there are 2019 draft picks Justin McInnis (sixth overall) and Brayden Lenius (15th overall), 2020 pick Kian Schaffer-Baker and Regina-born Mitch Picton (whom Saskatchewan selected in the fifth round, 37th overall, of the 2017 draft out of the University of Regina).

“I’m really pleased with the Canadian receiving group. I spoke with (receivers coach Travis Moore) and he kind of just smiled and nodded his head and went on,” Dickenson said.

“We know that’s a good group. We’ve got to keep them healthy and let them compete and we will see what happens. I think the cream will rise to the top and you’re going to see good football out of those players.”

Notes: Linebacker Deon Lacey wasn’t at camp Tuesday after being there Sunday and Monday. Dickenson would only say Lacey was back in quarantine but wouldn’t say why. “I probably shouldn’t answer that. There are certain things that I’m supposed to say about that and I’m not sure what it is,” Dickenson said. The team later confirmed Lacey was in COVID protocol … Slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert left practice early holding his right hand. The injury happened during one of the last passes of the day, when he caught a pass in the end zone from quarterback Cody Fajardo.