It was a long road to recovery.

But the experience was one eight-year defensive lineman Junior Turner wouldn’t trade for the world.

Over the past two seasons Turner has been on the injury list often, playing just nine games in 2016 and four in 2017 before finishing the campaign on the six-game injury list with a knee issue.

“It was a fun time for me actually,” he said. “I grew as a person mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

“I looked at it as something I could look back on, and be happy that I went through that journey; the people I met along the way and the people who have helped me grow as a man even outside of football.”

So although Turner has been at the 2018 Stampeders training camp since Day 1, there’s still a feeling of playing catch-up after so much missed time.

“I missed a ton of camps because I always decided to play through injury and get surgery at the end of the season,” said Turner.

“Training camp’s an important part because you get your timing down, so it’s not fun to miss because you start behind the eight-ball. And when you get in the season you only have a certain amount of reps to get stuff down-pat.

“A lot of times I usually come out here early in the mornings, and I’m doing stuff on the field by myself to try to catch up.”

Now, after twelve days of camp, Turner is feeling healthy, and assured of his abilities.

“If I don’t believe in me, who is going to believe in me? I’m very confident,” he said.

“My momma taught me that if you believe in yourself, everything will take care of itself – as long as you put in the work.”

And even though it’s just hours away, the anticipation of starting against the BC Lions in the Stamps’ first pre-season tilt (7 p.m., McMahon Stadium.) hasn’t hit Turner quite yet.

“I don’t really get excited until after the anthem,” he said. “Excitement is not something that usually comes to me until after when I’m about to take the field – and then it comes in full tilt.”

Excited or not, Turner’s still focused on what he has to do for the Stamps to come out on top against the Lions.

“Just stick to the game-plan that the coaches laid out, we just have to make sure that we align right, follow our assignments, do the little things, and it should take care of itself.”