TORONTO -- Andre Durie thought his football career was over.

The Toronto Argonauts veteran slotback's future looked in doubt after a July 5 game at Saskatchewan, where he suffered a season-ending injury for a second straight year. This time around Durie seriously hurt his knee, a bad omen for any football player but especially one approaching his 34th birthday.

"Yes, of course, it (retirement) was something on my mind," Durie said Wednesday during a telephone interview. "I didn't want to make any harsh decisions . . . I wanted to wait until I was healthy again and see how it was healing.

"But, definitely, retirement was on my mind mostly because you don't want to destroy your body. You want to be functional as a human being but as an athlete and because I am so pride-driven, I guess, I have to overcome this and come back for another year."

The five-foot-10, 199-pound Mississauga, Ont., native is well into his off-season conditioning and feeling good about his knee's progress. Thoughts of retirement have long been replaced by an anxiousness to return and regain the 2013 form that saw Durie register career highs in catches (92) and yards (986).

Fortunately for the Argos, Durie is no stranger to conquering adversity.

Durie's 2014 campaign was limited to just four games after twice breaking his collarbone -- the first time coming in Regina a year to the day before he hurt his knee. In 2005, he suffered a horrific leg injury at York that included severe nerve damage and not only threatened his football career but had doctors wondering if he'd walk normally again.

"That (nerve damage) and not having function in the leg were what made (rehab) much more complicated back then," Durie said. "There was nothing like that this time around so it came a lot easier."

Still, Durie not only dislocated the knee but tore the lateral collateral and medial collateral ligaments. He also damaged the medial and lateral meniscus, anterior cruciate ligament and popliteus muscle, which unlocks the knee when it bends.

"I was surprised, I thought it was just an MCL because when I went to make a move it just popped," Durie said. "But once we got on the plane things just swelled up and we knew more was going on."

Durie was bitterly disappointed to have a second straight season end prematurely by injury, but never wallowed in self pity.

"I've been through the self depression and beating myself up," he said. "That's a very narcissistic way to think about things . . . I feel like things are more complex than that.

"I play a game and have chosen (to have) passion for a game that's violent and where things can happen and I accept that. They don't only pay me to play but they pay me to rehab and get better as well."

One positive, though, has been the opportunity to spend time at home with girlfriend, Cobie, and children Malcolm, 14, Cian (pronounced KEY-AN), 12 and Harlow, nine months. Durie especially cherishes the chance to watch his daughter grow up, even at the expense of some sleep.

"She has been a little terror lately," Durie said with a chuckle. "I think she's teething."

Not only has Durie defied the odds by playing pro football, he's had the luxury of spending his nine-year career with one team. After two challenging seasons, Durie's focus is on having a productive and healthy 2016 campaign, not his football future.

"We'll see how my body holds up," he said. "If I'm feeling better and the team needs me and I can be productive still at that point in time, then I will definitely come back."

Two factors giving Durie extra incentive this year are Toronto moving to BMO Field and the city hosting the Grey Cup there. The Argos won the historic 100th CFL title game in 2012 at Rogers Centre, the last time it was held here.

After playing nine seasons at Rogers Centre -- where Toronto routinely struggled to attract fans -- Durie is anxious to suit up at the stadium at Exhibition Place, where as a youngster he watched the Argos at Exhibition Stadium.

"Oh yeah, that's kind of bringing me back to my roots a little bit," he said. "It's going to definitely be a good change of atmosphere."