Defensive end will be thrust into the starting lineup against the Stampeders Saturday in place of suspended veteran Shawn Lemon.
In professional sports, a player never knows when an opportunity will be presented.
On Thursday, an independent arbitrator ruled Lemon’s suspension for betting on CFL games in 2021 — including one in which he played while with Calgary — take effect immediately. Lemon will miss at least the next three games until his arbitration hearing is held on Aug. 1-2, but can attend team meetings and be around the facility.
Domineck, who comes off the practice roster, has been taking notes, asking questions of the coaches and veteran players, and believes he’s prepared for the challenge.
“I feel like they’ve prepared me well enough to the point where I feel I can go out there and not have any drop-off,” Domineck said on Friday at Olympic Stadium. “I feel like they’ve put me in position where the opportunity has arisen and I’ll be able to handle that opportunity the way they want.
“The best way you can make the most of it is by being prepared,” the 24-year-old native of Lakeland, Fla., added. “I know what’s at stake. I know what’s presented. It’s a huge opportunity. Not many people can say they get to play at this level, or get the opportunity that has been dropped into my lap. I’m definitely not taking it for granted. I just want to show I have the ability to play at this level, the willingness and the talent.”
While this will be the Als’ first game without Lemon and his 102 career sacks, that’s only one of many potential intriguing scenarios.
“I want to win,” Wiggan said. “The main thing is to go 5-0, but it’s a game that I had circled and I want to win. I was there for a long time … going to the Grey Cup three times. I never thought I’d leave. But now that I’m here … you guys missed out on something.”
Wiggan, 31, was selected by the Stamps in the fourth round (34th overall) in 2014, spent eight seasons playing there and won a Grey Cup in 2018. In 137 career games the 6-foot-1, 303-pounder has 164 defensive tackles, 20 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles.
“Sometimes you get older, sometimes they think you don’t got it,” he explained. “You’re always trying to prove something. As you get older you find things along the way, little chips on your shoulder to motivate you. I still think I’m a hell of a player. They could have been more ‘hey, we want you here’. It wasn’t necessarily that. I want to prove I’m still the player I’ve always been.”
While head coach Jason Maas has refused to discuss the Lemon incident, he has no choice but to adopt a next-man-up mentality. And given the fact the Als already have nine players on the six-game injured list — including starters Reggie Stubblefield, Wes Sutton and Tyler Snead — the team’s depth already has been tested.
On the other hand, Maas is looking forward to unleashing both Wiggan and Adeyemi-Berglund.
“Everybody’s a little different in how they approach playing their former team,” Maas said. “When it’s your first time, you remember. I think they should have some excitement. I think it does mean something. I hope it means just as much to play another game with us and represent what we represent, and that’s where their focus is.
“There probably will be a little more juice, as expected. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. They should expect a little bit different emotion. I’ve never been shy about passion. I love that fact. We’re excited for them as well.”