The life of a football player can be nomadic at times and involving picking up and shepherding on from one place to a next looking for that perfect place to call home, even for just a little while.

Let’s use defensive back Dexter Lawson, Jr. as an example here: signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a free agent after spending the last two years with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he was among the club’s final cuts after training camp back on June 1st. Less than two months later he got a call back from the Blue Bombers and he could very well be patrolling the cornerback spot opposite Terrell Bonds this Saturday in Calgary against the Stampeders.

“I’m always ready when my number is called. The way I prepare, it’s as if I’m up every week and staying ready and making sure I perfect my craft and doing everything I can do to help this team,” Lawson, Jr. told reporters after Blue Bombers practice earlier this week. “I just try to make everyone else’s job a lot easier. I know what I can do and that’s my biggest asset — understanding the people’s jobs around me so that way I can help where I need to and scratch where it itches.

“Wherever the guys need me to be at or however I can take some stress off their plate I try to help them in that area.”

The Blue Bombers started the first six games of the season with Marquise Bridges at the one corner, and then shifted Jamal Parker, Jr. there for last week’s win over the Toronto Argonauts. Alas, Parker, Jr. was injured as he was authoring a solid game and was replaced in game by rookie Trey Vaval, who also handles all the kick returns.

Bridges was released this week, and the club could now lean on Lawson, Jr.’s experience after he played 13 games over the last two seasons with the Ticats. Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said the club was ‘fortunate’ to be able to still grab Lawson, Jr. on the open market and defensive coordinator Jordan Younger spoke of the difficult decision to release him after camp.

“It was one of the tough cuts in training camp,” said Younger. “At the time, we were set with the people we had, but he made, obviously, a lasting impression. He was able to play at multiple positions, so he fits that mould of the type of player we like: easy to get along, does the work, self-motivated, has the skill athletically and, now, there was just a need.”

Lawson, Jr. had hardly been inactive while he waited for any team to call. He hooked up with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League — not far from his home base in Connecticut — and is itching to get back on the bigger, wider field with which he is more comfortable.

“It was different,” said Lawson, Jr. of the indoor game. “It was a culture shock, to say the least, but it was definitely cool, another experience, another step in the journey. It’s something I’m definitely appreciative of because it’s a part of my story. That’s the way the cards fell and I’m just so grateful I am where I am.

“I knew (the Blue Bombers organization) was different from training camp. It’s hard to explain. From Day 1 when I got here it’s the team camaraderie — everybody being together and moving as a family on and off the field. It’s something that I’d like to be a part of and probably the reason why we are so successful the last few years. I just want to be a part of that.”

VA BACK ON TRACK: The Blue Bombers expect to see QB Vernon Adams, Jr. back behind centre for the Stampeders this week — the depth charts will be released on Friday — and the veteran pivot has hurt them in the two Calgary wins by completing 29-of-42 passes for 489 yards with five touchdowns against just one interception.

“We have to play what we see and expected the unexpected and play our rules,” said veteran defensive end James Vaughters on Wednesday (the club did not practice today). “It’s more to do with their route concepts than what VA does when a play breaks down.

“He’s played really well so far, so we have to prepare for his best.”