CFL.ca
Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca
Jason Jimenez’s career as a Tiger-Cat went from one extreme to the other, elation to utter disappointment.
After being signed in the offseason with the expectation to become a key pillar along the offensive line, Jimenez suffered a knee injury in the team’s second preseason game, at home against Winnipeg.
“It’s something that I’ve never had to go through before and hopefully won’t have to go through ever again,” admitted Jimenez.
After gelling with his teammates through training camp and getting ready for the season, not being able to play alongside his new brothers-in-arms was frustrating to say the least. Becoming an observer instead of a participant meant a new battle, a fight against a helplessness and exclusion that he hadn’t felt before.
“There were times where I kind of felt like an outsider looking in, not because of my teammates or coaches but from my own reflection and not being able to be on the field to contribute like I wanted to,” said Jimenez.
“At the same time, my teammates were always very encouraging and positive, and I think that helped a lot towards my attitude with my injury,” he added.
Now that those darker times are firmly behind him, this Saturday’s game against the Montreal Alouettes can’t come soon enough.
“I’m excited, I’ve been waiting for this day for nine weeks now and finally my time has come,” he said.
And not a moment too soon.
Belton Johnson, who had been signed during the season to hold down Jimenez’s right tackle position was hurt during Monday’s win over Toronto and won’t be available for Saturday’s game.
For the first time in regular season action, Ticats fans will be able to see Jimenez unleash his physical, aggressive style of play that attracted GM Bob O’Billovich to him in the first place.
“It’s been a long time waiting for him and we’re anxious to see what he can do, he’s a good football player and a proven football player,” said Hamilton’s Offensive Line coach Steve Burratto.
“He’s got that very aggressive style of play and he brings a kind of attitude that the defence has to contend with, which is a little bit different than what we have,” he said.
Fans and coaches alike will be looking for the 6-7, 320-pound Southern Mississippi product to show the high level of play that earned him a nod as a West Division and CFL All-Star in 2008 when he takes the field against two very talented defensive ends in John Bowman and Anwar Stewart.
