Advertisement

Rob Bagg scores first TD since 2010 after long recovery from torn ACLs in both knees

Andrew Bucholtz

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' first touchdown in Thursday night's game against the Toronto Argonauts came from a man who hadn't caught a touchdown pass for the team in three years, but had been a Roughrider that whole time. That would be wide receiver Rob Bagg, whose 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter was the first one he'd caught since hauling in two against Hamilton in Week 13 of the 2010 season. It's been a long, strange road full of ups and downs for Bagg since then, but the team's stuck with him, and he paid off that faith Thursday.

Three weeks after that Hamilton game, Bagg tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee against Calgary. That caused him to miss the rest of the season and Saskatchewan's run to the Grey Cup game, but it looked like he might be back in time for at least part of the 2011 season. Bagg reinjured his left ACL during offseason training, though, underwent surgery and missed all of 2011. 2012 looked brighter for him, but after again earning a spot in the Riders' lineup, he tore his right ACL in their third game of the season and was gone for the year. With a history like that, you might expect him to be a little worried about his knees heading into this season. As Bagg told The Regina Leader-Post's Ian Hamilton, though, he isn't concerned about his injury-plagued past:

“As odd as it may sound, my knees have never bothered me,” he said. “(The injuries have been like) I feel good and, in one second, something has happened.

“Any doubt is just going to slow me down. I’m comfortable with where I’m at. I’ve prepared as well as I can, so it is what it is.”

It's been an interesting career for Bagg, and one with plenty of lows to go with the highs. He signed with Saskatchewan as an undrafted free agent in 2007, but after training camp, decided to return to Queen's University for his fifth year of eligibility with the Golden Gaels instead of playing with the Riders, who went on to win the Grey Cup that season. After he went to the Riders in 2008, he started off as a small contributor, but had some great moments and was named the Canadian player of the week in November. 2009 saw him become him a featured part of the Riders' fabled Canadian Air Force, and he recorded 59 catches for 805 yards and five touchdowns en route to a Grey Cup appearance that year. He got off to a strong start in 2010 as well, hauling in 44 passes for 688 yards before getting hurt. Since then, though, it's been mostly injuries and rehab for Bagg. He looked like his old self Thursday, however, and if he can stay healthy, he may be an important part for Saskatchewan this season. That could reward the team for sticking with him throughout the low points.