James Letcher Jr. had lofty goals as a returner this season.
“This was supposed to be the year where I was supposed to go crazy,” he told Voice of the Riders Dave Thomas. “It was going to be me leading them that way.”
You know what they say about best laid plans, though.
Letcher, whom the Riders signed in February for his speed and elusiveness in the return game, hasn’t had much of a chance to make good on those high ambitions he had for himself. He suffered a forearm injury in Week 4 against Toronto and has missed the last six games.
But Letcher is listed as available for Sunday’s contest against the B.C. Lions and is set to make his return after a week of being a full participant in practice.
Letcher had seven punt returns for 97 yards and brought back nine kickoffs for 219 yards before getting hurt. To suggest he’s excited to pick up where he left off before getting hurt is an understatement.
“Me going back out there is definitely going to be fun,” he said. “I’m super excited. I’m ready to go.”
The Riders went deep into the depth chart without the 5-foot-7, 180-pound Letcher. They lost his replacement, Mathew Sexton, to injury in Week 6 and have had to turn to Johnny Johnson III and Daniel Wiebe to return kicks.
By committee, the Riders have managed expertly. Their 16.6-yard punt return average is tops in the CFL, while they’re second with an average kickoff return of 24.9 yards.
“It puts a little pressure on me just to make sure I’ve got to go out there and continue to do what I’m supposed to do and be the person I’m supposed to be as far as on the field,” Letcher said. “To have me back out there with them is going to be even more of a push.”
Letcher’s ability to see the field well is just a small part of what he brings to the craft.
“I played a lot of positions growing up,” he said. “I’ve always been a returner just because of my size. Me being able to see the field and track the ball how I track it and be able to read blocks and do the things that I do, definitely gives me the upper hand as far as other returners.
“It’s just me and it’s just who I am. The guys that are blocking for me make it easier for me to just run.”
The Riders could use the full package of what Letcher brings. Without a full receiving corps – Sam Emilus is available for Sunday’s tilt, but Kian Schaffer-Baker remains out – getting Letcher back to return kicks could pave the way to keep Johnson fresher for the offence.
Letcher can’t wait to help and is just thrilled to be darting around on the field again with the ball in his hands.
“It feels real good,” he said. “Nobody, as a professional athlete, wants to be on the sidelines to an injury. Being able to be back here and out there running around and out there with the guys is amazing.”
