By Canadian Press

Lions’ linebacker Elimimian back to dominant self following Achilles injury

Sep 7, 2016 | 11:15 AM

Solomon Elimimian is back wreaking havoc on CFL offences.

The B.C. Lions’ tenacious linebacker has regained the form that made him the CFL’s outstanding player in 2014. This comes after Elimimian thought last year he may be done with football while recovering from Achilles surgery.

“I had surgery Aug. 20 and didn’t start walking until Oct. 6,” Elimimian recalled. “I remember how long the rehab process was . . . the good thing was I was naive to the process because had I known how long it would take and how much work I’d have to put in, I don’t know if I’d be able to do it again.”

The six-foot, 225-pound Elimimian suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in a 52-22 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Aug. 16, 2015. At the time, the 29-year-old was the CFL’s second-leading tackler behind teammate Adam Bighill.

Elimimian made CFL history in 2014 when he became the first defensive player to win the league’s outstanding player award. He recorded a league-record 143 tackles while adding five sacks, one interception and three fumble recoveries.

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Elimimian, the CFL’s top rookie in 2010, had a club-record 14 tackles with a sack and interception in B.C.’s 16-13 road win last Wednesday night over the Toronto Argonauts. Elimimian has 34 tackles in the Lions’ last three games and 70 on the season, behind only Montreal’s Bear Woods (74), along with five sacks.

B.C. (7-3) has won four of its last five games to stand second in the West Division behind Calgary (8-1-1). The Lions host the Montreal Alouettes (3-7) on Friday night.

“I’m playing with confidence which is very important because to be successful you need confidence,” Elimimian said. “I know some people don’t come back from an Achilles and even when they do, sometimes they’re not the same.

“As a player, if you lose your confidence you might as well retire and do something else. I feel like I’m back in my groove.”

Elimimian showed that a week ago when he ran down Toronto running back Brandon Whitaker and held him to a five-yard reception when Whitaker had plenty of open field in front of him. But Elimimian, who has spent his entire seven-year CFL career with B.C., admits the long, painful process back often tested his patience.

“During my rehab my (trainer) thought I was crazy,” Elimimian said. “She’d ask me, ‘Solomon, what did you do this weekend,’ and initially I’d lie and tell her I didn’t do anything.

“Then she’d say, ‘Solomon,’ and I’d be like, ‘OK, I did some sprints, I did some hills, I did some extra work,’ because I wanted to put everything I had into coming back. During my rehab, I envisioned making a tremendous comeback and being at the top of my game and that’s why I kept working. I realized the only thing I could control was how much work I put in each and every day and that’s what I did.”

That’s pretty much the message Elimimian received when he reached out to such players as Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant, Edmonton running back John White and former CFLers Vince Agnew and Kory Sheets about their recovery from Achilles injuries.

“They gave me great advice,” Elimimian said. “They kind of got my mind prepared for what I needed to do.”

But when Elimimian had doubts about his recovery, it was his father, Isaac — a retired English and philosophy professor — who provided perspective.

“I remember calling my dad because things were a little tough, I wasn’t feeling like myself and I wasn’t sure if I could be the same player I was,” Elimimian said. “My dad talked about immigrating from Nigeria and English not being his first language but he learned English and got his PhD and dealt with racism and trying to bring the family to America.

“He said there are things we can’t control but if you have faith in God and work hard, things will always work themselves out. He also said when I got into my groove and found my stride I’d be good to go. I really felt those words and remained patient, put my head down and kept working and I found my groove and started feeling like myself.”

As he works toward the goal of winning a second Grey Cup, Elimimian remains thankful Lions head coach/GM Wally Buono stuck with him.

“He brought me back which says a lot,” Elimimian said. “He didn’t do the easy thing but I think Wally did the right thing and I’m glad it’s paying off.”

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. The previous version had an incorrect reference to Woods’s last name.