Ken-Yon Rambo is finished for the season with a serious knee injury, but smart money is betting the Calgary Stampeders receiver makes a full recovery.
Rambo has suffered worse damage, like when he took a bullet in the back as a teenage gang member in Long Beach, Calif. Although the slug narrowly missed his spine, Rambo not only recovered, but went on to star at Ohio State before being drafted by the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.
If resiliency and grit come into play, Rambo’s got this wound licked.
“After coming off a great season last year and being the leading receiver in the CFL, I wanted to help the team get back to the Grey Cup this year,” said Rambo, who led the CFL with more than 1,400 yards in receptions in 2008. “Unfortunately, I’m not going to play the rest of the season. You all know the extent of my injury.”
Rambo will require an arthroscopic procedure next week to repair the meniscus, he’ll then endure four weeks of rehab before undergoing another procedure to fix his ACL, but he’s doing his best to cope with the setback. Though he won’t play again in 2009, the fifth-year Stamp will remain with the team for the rest of the season.
“I can’t wait to get this out of the way and get this rehab going and I can’t wait till next year,” said Rambo, 30.
“I’m very anxious. This is a whole new thing for me, I’ve never been injured to this high degree. I’ve never had any big knee injuries or anything like that, so this is going to be a little bit different. But my head is going to be into it. I’m a professional and I’ve been into it for nine years now, so I know what to bring to the table team-wise.”
Considering all that Rambo’s been through, it’s hard to bet against him.
The Stamps, 2-2, host the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday, 7 p.m., at McMahon Stadium.
