The road ahead: Roughriders QB Darian Durant talks about injury

Darian Durant is thinking about the long road ahead.

On Tuesday, the veteran quarterback spoke publicly for the first time since suffering a season-ending injury. Durant ruptured his left Achilles tendon late in the first-half of the first game of the CFL season.

"It was a lot of frustration," Durant said. "The main thing is just the rehab process, man. Especially for an injury like this, it's tough and no one looks forward to it."

This is the second-straight season Durant has suffered a significant injury.

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According to Scott Anderson, a Regina physical therapist, it takes weeks before rehabilitation can begin, and it could takeDuranteight months before fully recovering.

"It's going to be a good challenge for me," he said.

The fact thatDurantwas not hit on his season-ending play makes it tougher for the pivot.

"It would be way easier to accept if it had happened getting tackled or running or something," he said. "It definitely makes it a lot tougher to deal with."

Down but not out

Despite his long road to recovery,Durantsaid he's ready to take part in the team's quarterback meetings.

"I just want to be a part of this team regardless," he said. "We still have a great opportunity in front of us and I want to be a part of that."

Durantunderwent surgery on Friday. The 32-year-old said he'll be in Regina for at least the next two months before a decision is made on where he'll begin rehab.

Duranttook a deep breathe before responding to the reaction fans on social media.

"The support from Rider Nation has just been, has just been wonderful, man," he said. "It's hard to put into words the amount of support I've gotten. Not only from Rider Nation, but from Tar Heel Nation (Durant'salma mater, University of North Carolina), back to my high school people.

"I just want to thank everyone for their love and support," he said. "That's what is going to help me get through this."