Elks DB Aaron Grymes hasn’t ‘even thought about’ reconstructed ACL during training camp

Edmonton Elks defensive back Aaron Grymes has been flying around at training camp without his repaired knee entering his mind.

Grymes suffered an ACL tear near the end of the 2019 CFL season with the B.C. Lions. He played 16 games making 54 tackles and one interception during that year on the Left coast. In February, the 30-year-old cover man signed a one-year contract with the EE Football Team.

“I was talking to Brock [Sunderland] on the sidelines, I haven’t even thought about my knee out there at practice,” Grymes said in a post-practice press conference.

“By far it’s been my favourite thing about camp, the fact that as I’m playing, there’s nothing hold me back, I’m not thinking about it. That 20 months off was a huge blessing in disguise for me.”

Grymes returns to Edmonton for a third time, originally signing with the green and gold in 2013. The University of Idaho product played in 33 games from 2013-2015, recording 105 total tackles, eight interceptions, and one sack. He was a named a CFL all-star in 2015 and was a key member of Edmonton’s Grey Cup championship defence.

“I would be doing a disservice if I put a word to it — it’s indescribable. I can’t stop smiling. Home is always home,” Grymes said.

“Coming back this year driving into town I’ve had a ton of flashbacks. Me and my wife have talked so much about it. She moved up here with me. I’ve got so many memories.”

Grymes played six games with Edmonton in 2017 and spent the 2018 season as a member of the team. In his 82-game CFL career, the five-foot-11, 186-pound DB has accumulated 253 total tackles, 12 interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a sack and has scored two defensive touchdowns.

“That’s one of the biggest things in championship defences, it doesn’t matter who you are, if you do things right the scheme is going to work and then we celebrate afterwards,” Grymes said.

“The excitement is here, the leadership is here, the pieces of the puzzle are here.”