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Bear Woods is old enough and been around the CFL long enough to remember the days of the nine-game injured list.

He’s seen it all, experienced just about all football has to offer and life in general.

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As Woods can attest, injuries are part of football life having endured more than a few of his own bumps and bruises, strains and surgeries.

But what hit Woods in the days leading up to mini-camp in May came out of nowhere, no advanced notice, no signs of impending peril.

At first, Woods thought it was some kind of nerve damage along his leg.

“I thought I had a calf strain,’’ said Woods. “And I can tolerate pain pretty good because I’ve had all these surgeries (including a season-ending procedure in 2015 when he tore his pec in the second week when he played in Montreal).

“I finally got an MRI and it was a herniated disc. I was just blown (away) because my back was not painful, but I was in a spasm for about 2 1/2 weeks until I got the surgery.”