Article author:
The Canadian Press
EDMONTON — Edmonton Elks running back James Wilder Jr. has said the 2022 CFL season is over.
Wilder Jr. wrote on his Instagram account that he was told that his 22-year campaign was over and that the only way to resume playing was to undergo surgery.
"Doctors told me my season was over and the only way I could play again was to have neck and spine surgery," Wilder Jr. wrote. "I'm so numb and I don't even know how to process this to know what I want to do.
"This is by no means a retirement speech. What's going on in my career? I'm just keeping the fans up to date.”
The 6-foot-3-inch, 232-pound Wilder Jr. has played three games this season against Edmonton. Rushed for 124 yards on 28 carries (averaging 4.4 yards).
Wilder Jr. is in his second season at Edmonton. He ran for 770 yards and two TDs on 142 carries (5.4 yards average) last year.
Wilder Jr. has become a favorite among his CFL fans for his outgoing and bubbly personality. But he said there was a lot of disappointment behind his smile this season.
"The last two weeks have been very difficult for him emotionally," wrote Wilder Jr.. "It's getting harder and harder to smile in public when people ask me when I'll be back playing. It's getting harder and harder to even smile since this information."
Wilder His junior started his CFL career in 2017 with the Toronto Argonauts. He was named the CFL's top-his rookie that year after recording his career-high 872 yards and his 5 TDs on his 122 carries (7.1 yards average).
Wilder Jr. played 44 regular season games in Toronto (2017 -19), rushing for 2,023 yards on 360 carries (5.6 yards average) on 9 TDs. He also added 154 catches for 1,487 yards with five touchdowns.
Wilder Jr. played for Florida State during his college days and helped the Seminoles win his 2014 NCAA title. The 30-year-old from Tampa, Florida, was selected in his 2014 NFL Draft, but spent time with both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills before heading to the CFL.
Wilder's father, James Wilder his senior, was his NFL running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins (1981-90).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on August 18, 2022.