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For the first time since mid-July, Joe West was back on the field at Calgary Stampeders practice on Thursday afternoon.

There’s no guarantee West will be fully, 100% ready to play when the Stamps welcome the Edmonton Eskimos to McMahon Stadium on Labour Day, but after a long six weeks on the injured-list, the 32-year-old appears to be on the verge of returning.

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West participated in about half the Stamps’ drills at Thursday’s practice, and while head coach Dave Dickenson said the team was willing to be patient, West insisted he was ready to go.

This is a guy who has spent more than his fair share of time fighting through injuries, so he’s got a better idea than most about what he needs to feel before he’s ready to step back into a game.

“Just feeling good and executing plays and being able to jog back to the huddle without being dead,” West said. “Right now, it’s just focusing on getting my conditioning. My skills and stuff? They’re there, I don’t have to worry about that.”