Jake Thomas stepped out from the tunnel onto the turf at Investors Group Field on Wednesday, and for a teeny-tiny moment, Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp was put on pause.

And then came the chorus: ‘Jaaaakkkkeee!!!’

The often unheralded and under-appreciated defensive tackle made a triumphant return on Wednesday, a day after the Bombers opted to re-sign the veteran free agent. And his importance to the squad – not just as a capable homegrown talent but as one of those ‘glue guys’ so popular in the locker room – was obvious just based on the reaction of his teammates.

“I guess it’s like summer vacation when you’re in school and then you come back after not having seen your friends in a while,” said Thomas, who will step on the field for the first time in 2018 at practice on Thursday. “I’m just happy to be back. It’s great group of guys and I’m excited to get to work.”

Thomas became a free agent in February, but with the Bombers likely moving to an all-American defensive line – and with younger draft picks Faith Ekakitie and Trent Corney already on the roster – it looked like the organization was going to move on from the veteran.

That changed Tuesday not long after prospect Ian Marouf was injured, thinning the Canadian contingent up front. The Bombers had been in constant communication with Thomas since free agency and when the call came from the club, he hardly wasted any time mulling over the decision.

“I figured it was eventually going to happen. It was a waiting game… I figured I could miss a couple days of camp,” said Thomas. “The season starts a week earlier now. I just wanted to spend the long weekend with my wife.”

That deadpan sense of humour is part of what has endeared Thomas to everyone during his 100-plus games as a Bomber. An example: asked if he had considered other offers from other clubs, he flashed a wry grin and said:

“First I was trying to exhaust all my NFL opportunities. That didn’t happen. I was going to make the switch to fullback.

“No… I fielded a few offers but the biggest thing for me, especially at this point in my career, is I wasn’t going to sign anywhere that I didn’t feel was a good feel for me. And deep down I always wanted to come back to Winnipeg so that was probably in the back of my head.”

“The first 100 (games) were good. I’m looking forward to the next 100. I’ve been here awhile, but I’m still only 27. When I got drafted I was excited to be a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and seven years later I’m still excited to be a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.”

Thomas has missed only three games in the last five seasons and is coming off a year in which he posted career-highs in sacks (four, also achieved in 2014) and tackles (21). His nine quarterback pressures were second-highest among Canadian defensive tackles in the league, behind only Zach Evans (11).

“I heard the best two abilities when I first started pro football were accountability and durability,” said Thomas, when asked for the key to his longevity. “You see a lot of great guys who come through and unfortunately, they get hurt or can’t really learn the playbook. I’ve always prided myself on trying to stay as healthy as possible and if any of my teammates have a question, give them the best answer possible.

“I try to know the majority of the playbook, not just my position.”

And that might just be the perfect description of a ‘Mike O’Shea’ guy.

“Big for our team,” said the Bombers head coach of the return of Thomas. “You see by the reaction when he steps on the field. Guys’ faces are lighting up. It’s an important addition, that’s for sure.

“He provides a lot of different things. (Stability along the D-line) being one of them for sure, but just his presence, his leadership and how good a teammate he is to the guys. These things are all extremely important to winning. We’re very happy he’s back.”

BOMBERS CAMP REPORT | DAY 4

BIG DAY COMING:

All-star linebacker Adam Bighill, signed last Saturday, arrived in Winnipeg Wednesday afternoon and is expected to be on the field Thursday morning.

On the plane to Winnipeg! Let the new chapter begin! #savage

— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) May 23, 2018

OUCH REPORT:

Not practicing on Wednesday were LB/DB Maurice Leggett, DE Trent Corney, DL Larry Webster, DB Mohammed Seisay, WR Tyrone Pierre, WR Drew Wolitarsky, WR Corey Washington, RB Kienan LaFrance.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea had no update on the injury to DT Ian Marouf, who was carted off on Tuesday, calling it a ‘lower-body injury.’ Corney should be fine, he said. As for Washington, who has impressed through the start of camp, he added  “Preventative. We like what he’s doing, just want to give him a chance to do it more. We can catch something early, give him a rest early and help him last a little longer.”

LOOK-SEE:

Former Bombers QB Bryan Bennett, who spent 2015-16 with the club and was released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders last year, was back at IGF taking in practice on Wednesday. He will be worked out by the club separately before a decision is made.

Meanwhile, O’Shea offered up his take on the QBs in camp – excluding starter Matt Nichols – and how they have looked.

“They’re working through the new playbook and showing us what we thought we would see,” he said. “They’re smart guys who go through a progression quite quickly, good arm strength, athletic. They have slight differences in their attributes, but they have pretty well the full gamut. Then it’s just a matter of making sure they get through the playbook and process at speed when you’re going against a different opponent.

“We like what they’re doing so far, for sure. But we’ve got to get them into a situation where there’s a different colour jersey coming after them for real and see how everything unfolds then.”

TAKE NOTE:

Here’s O’Shea when asked Wednesday if the Bombers relied on Andrew Harris too much in 2017. Harris won the CFL’s rushing crown with 189 carries for 1,035 yards and set a league record for receptions by a running back with 105.

“No. You want to get the ball in the hands of your playmakers, right? I think Andrew deserved all those touches. He deserved every one of them and he made the most of them. I don’t think we used him too much. If that’s how things work out, that’s how things work out. If you add other pieces, other weapons, maybe the touches go down.

“What I’ve learned about Andrew in the last couple of years is he’s just going to be happy if we reach our team goal.”

STANDING OUT: DB Marcus Sayles, WR Weston Dressler, S Taylor Loffler, RB Andrew Harris, WR Darvin Adams, DE Craig Roh, CB Chris Randle, WR Ryan Lankford.