Thursday, Jul. 16, 2009

Fever activates Kirkland for Saturday's game

By Ben Reynolds, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- Receiver Tremayne Kirkland will return to the field Saturday for the Tri-Cities Fever when it takes on Rio Grande Valley (7-7) in Hidalgo, Texas.

Kirkland, a speedster from Portland State University, has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury.

Despite not playing since the Fever's 61-20 loss to Spokane on May 30, Kirkland still leads the team in receptions (60), yards (699) and touchdowns (13).

To make room for Kirkland, receiver Tommy Devereaux has been placed on the practice squad.

As the Fever's receiving corp appears to be getting back to full strength, both the offensive and defensive lines are battered.

The Fever (2-12) placed offensive lineman Jake Forshey (knee) on the injured reserve list earlier this week and linebacker/fullback Baron Harrell is out for the season.

Julian Riley, who has four sacks in his last two games, is also out for the season because of work commitments in Florida.

To fill some voids, the Fever has been re-signed lineman Phil Jordan, who played in two games earlier this season, and lineman Kevin Lowe (6-foot-3, 305 pounds) this week.

Lowe played for the Fever in 2006 when it was in the National Indoor Football League.

Defensive lineman Chuck Jones and linebacker Jo'Artis Ratti also will not play this week because they are attending a funeral.

-- Receiver/linebacker Robert Garth, who played for the Fever in 2007, has announced his retirement effective at the end of this season.

Garth, who currently plays for the Green Bay Blizzard, was the team's second leading receiver and fan favorite in his only season with Tri-Cities in 2007.