When receiver Reggie Begelton walked into the Stampeders locker room on Tuesday, he received some puzzled looks.

After getting the call from Stamps brass last week, he was on a plane to Calgary as soon as he could to join the team for practice and didn’t think to tell anyone.

“Everyone was surprised, nobody knew I was coming,” said Begelton. “No one at all until I walked into the locker room.

“Everyone was giving me the bug-eye a little bit, but with a big smile on their face.”

When Begelton went down with an injury in the team’s first pre-season game against the BC Lions on June 6, it put an end to what had been a tremendous start to his CFL career.

But when the doctors evaluated him, they understood he wouldn’t be on the sideline for the entire season, presenting an opportunity for him to rejoin the team once his knee was fully recovered.

“I’ve always come back fast from injuries,” Begelton said. “That’s what I told the coaches before I left. I don’t know what it is, but I knew I was going to be back pretty soon.”

“We’re just happy that Reggie is back with the team,” admitted head coach Dave Dickenson. “He would have made our team if he was healthy. Once we got word that he was feeling good, we called him up.”

Receiver Reggie Begelton during a pre-season game on June 6, 2017 (Photo by David Moll)

The Lamar University alum originally signed with the Stamps on May 17 and participated in rookie camp and training camp.

Prior to the injury that ended his first opportunity to make the team, the 6-foot-2 rookie had hauled in five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

“As soon as I came into the locker room from that game, I felt down, I was depressed because I’ve worked so hard to get to where I’m at,” said Begelton.

“I know that I went through camp and I tried to fight for a spot and I think I did pretty well. Unfortunately, when we got to the showcase, I got an injury. Thank God that it wasn’t a serious, serious injury and I was able to come back from it.”

Now back in the Red and White, the 23-year old is looking to build off what he did during the pre-season.

And while his transition back into the Stamps systems won’t be seamless, he’s already a step ahead and ready to roll.

“It felt really good to be back,” Begelton smiled. “Honestly, it feels like I never left. I have to get accustomed to the plays again and everything, of course, but it felt like I came back in running.”

While currently on the practice roster, Begelton vows to be ready when called upon.

“This is a business and you always want to perform to the best of your abilities so you can get on the field,” said Begelton.

“But wherever the team needs me, that’s where I’ll be.”