Carl English has been activated from injured reserve and will be in the St. Joh's Edge lineup Saturday night for its opening game against the KW Titans in the National Basketbal League of Canada's Central Division final.
English underwent surgery to repair ligaments in his left thumb, and has been sidelined for the past two months.
The Patrick's Cove native has been participating in full practice this week.
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EARLIER STORY
Carl English has said his goal all along has been to be ready for the second round of the National Basketball League playoffs, which begins Saturday night at Mile One Centre for the St. John's Edge.
But the Edge's star guard isn't yet committed to playing in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Central Division final against the KW Titans.
At least he wasn't Wednesday afternoon, but according to the 38-year-old from Patrick's Cove, that could change very soon.
“Right now,” English said following a practice at Mile One, “(it’s) day by day. But it’s close … real close.”
English feels healthy two months after undergoing surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his left thumb and he has clearance to play. He was given an eight-week recovery period, and he’s currently into the eighth week since going under the knife.
But while English has tested himself in two full practices with the team this week, he remains officially listed as injured.
“As of right now,” said Edge coach Steve Marcus, “he’s still on the inactive roster.
“But he’s playing live now,” added Marcus, as English scrimmaged with Glen Davis, Satnam Singh, Russell Byrd, Isaiah Tate and Jarryn Skeete on the Mile One court behind him. “We’ll see how his body responds, his thumb and legs.
“The thumb is good. I’ve been working pretty hard since this happened. I did want to make a comeback, and I knew we had to get to the second round to make that possible.”
Carl English
“At the end of the day, it’s his decision. The medical team has said it’s up to him. We should know in the next 12-24 hours whether he’s activated or not.”
“The thumb is good,” English said. “I’ve been working pretty hard since this happened. I did want to make a comeback, and I knew we had to get to the second round to make that possible.”
The Edge have come up with some solid insurance in case English can’t go Saturday. On Wednesday, the team announced it had signed veteran shooting guard Kyle Johnson.
Besides English, the team has since lost two other Canadian guards when Diego Kapelan signed with a South American team late in the season and swingman Shaquille Keith broke a bone in his foot in the first-round playoff series with the Sudbury Five.
Johnson was signed as an injury designate for Keith, who is finished for the season.
“We got word late last night (Tuesday) the league was going to give us the exception of signing a player (to replace Keith),” Marcus said. “We had seven guys who were healthy to practise today. Junior (Cadougan) could have gone, but guys are being cautious with their bodies right now.
“We wanted to bring in another player who could help us, obviously, and just so we could practise … allow us to go five-on-five full court instead of half court.”
“He’s a winner,” Marcus said of Johnson, who helped the London Lightning to NBL Canada titles tn 2017 and 2018, “and he wants to be one of the first players to win three straight (championships) in this league.”
