It害羞草研究所檚 been the story of the week in the Canadian Football League.

Nathan Rourke is back after being out of the B.C. Lions lineup since injuring his right foot in a game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina on Aug. 19. After the subsequent surgery, most thought Rourke was done for the year but he害羞草研究所檚 defied the odds and will play in the Lions regular season finale in Winnipeg this weekend.

Rourke害羞草研究所檚 return to action against the Blue Bombers on Friday night will be an appetizer for Lions fans who hope a three-course meal will follow with the entrees being the Western Semi-Final, the Western Final and the Grey Cup game.

For Rourke, it害羞草研究所檚 been a long road back with plenty of ups and downs. 害羞草研究所淚 remained optimistic but that didn害羞草研究所檛 make any it easier. There were definitely times where I didn害羞草研究所檛 even want to think about football,害羞草研究所� said the 24-year-old native of Victoria.

Going through rehab is a tough time both physically and mentally. As most athletes would attest, the physical work is gruelling and you害羞草研究所檙e usually isolated doing it 害羞草研究所� which causes a feeling of disconnect from the team. For Rourke, it was the small victories on such days that kept him motivated.

害羞草研究所淚 just wanted to make sure it felt like a productive day. It害羞草研究所檚 tough early on when you don害羞草研究所檛 see any progress but it gets easier when you start seeing that the incision wound is closing up a little bit more and you害羞草研究所檙e able to do something without pain. Those little victories were fun. Sometimes when you don害羞草研究所檛 see that on a day-to-day basis it can be quite challenging when you害羞草研究所檙e isolated from the team and not at the facility,害羞草研究所� said Rourke, who despite missing half a season is still the Lions害羞草研究所� nominee for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian awards.

According to Rourke, the lowest point during the recovery process occurred during the last week of September. 害羞草研究所淲e had a setback at one point where the doctors weren害羞草研究所檛 happy with the incision wound closing and they were worried about it getting infected, so I had to stay home instead of going to practice the week of the Ottawa game,害羞草研究所� he explained.

At that point, Rourke had to prioritize recovery over football. He missed practices and meetings 害羞草研究所� and if you know anything about Rourke 害羞草研究所� you know how much that pained him as he害羞草研究所檚 a preparation junkie. But in typical Rourke fashion, he made sure he was up to speed on opponents who the Lions might face when he returned.

The turning point in the rehab process according to Rourke was when the incision started to close and the chances of infection were reduced.

害羞草研究所淭hat allowed me to do some more things and I really started to make strides in my rehab. I started walking around and I eventually got out of the walking boot around six weeks after the surgery. I started to enjoy things a little more,害羞草研究所� said Rourke.

Rourke feels confident that the mental part of the game won害羞草研究所檛 be an issue for him when he returns but, like any athlete returning from a serious injury, it害羞草研究所檚 how he will respond physically in game conditions.

Most doctors will give you a blunt response when you ask them about getting back to 100% after surgery. The standard reply is 害羞草研究所測ou害羞草研究所檒l never be back to 100%害羞草研究所� and when that story was relayed to Rourke, he got a good chuckle.

害羞草研究所淒octors told me that as well but I don害羞草研究所檛 believe them for a second. It害羞草研究所檚 hard to give a percentage of where I害羞草研究所檓 at but that害羞草研究所檚 why we are going through this week just to feel where that is. It害羞草研究所檚 certainly not 100% but I feel pretty good considering,害羞草研究所� stated Rourke.

Rourke said he害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渟trangely calm害羞草研究所� when describing on how he害羞草研究所檚 feeling prior to the Winnipeg game. It害羞草研究所檚 the polar opposite for Lions fans who are hoping a healthy Rourke can lead them to a post-season run.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 害羞草研究所渢he Moj害羞草研究所� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at or your local Black Press Media website.