Allen Cameron
The Calgary Herald
CALGARY — To their credit, Saskatchewan Roughriders players and coaches have done a nice job of refusing to use their staggering injury list as an excuse this Canadian Football League season.
Possibly because there’s been no shortage of people willing to do it on their behalf.
And while few teams can match the ‘Riders when it comes to the combination of sheer numbers of injuries, and the gruesome nature of some of them, the Calgary Stampeders haven’t exactly been a picture of health all season, either.
Four starters missed Friday’s game in Regina: two starting Canadians on defence in the form of safety Wes Lysack and defensive end Mike Labinjo, Canadian receiver Teyo Johnson and Canadian offensive lineman Jeff Pilon.
The Stamps have also dealt with the extended losses of starting middle linebacker Saleem Rasheed (who returned last month after nine games in the injured list), defensive end Julian Jenkins (out for the season with a broken leg), offensive linemen Godfrey Ellis and Antonio Hall, backup quarterback Dave Dickenson, defensive back Julian Jenkins and safety Richard Karikari, in addition to a raft of one- and two-game absences.
“We don’t sit back and complain,” shrugged quarterback Henry Burris. “We feel we have guys in the locker-room who can step up and keep this team rolling in the direction we want to go, and we don’t want to focus on those things. We just stay plugged in and focused on the goal at hand, and keep pushing at that.”
“We expect whoever the backups are to come in and perform just as well,” added linebacker JoJuan Armour, who sat out Tuesday’s practice with leg issues. “We all prepare every week. And we don’t like to make excuses for too much of anything. You won’t hear us doing that at all.”
Lysack appears to be making progress in coming back from his ankle injury; Labinjo (ankle) less so. Pilon (shoulder) remains doubtful for Monday’s rematch with the Roughriders.
Also missing Wednesday’s practice were linebackers Shannon James (flu) and Dwaine Carpenter (personal).
“We’ve managed to find 42 guys who want to play football, and we go out and play,” said Stamps coach and general manager John Hufnagel.
“The freakish nature of the Saskatchewan injuries, of course, creates headlines.
“But every team has injuries; it’s part of the game and you have to deal with it. That’s where your depth means so much, and your personnel and scouting department becomes big when there’s a time when you have to say, ‘I need a player here yesterday.’ ”
Meanwhile, the Stamps have released quarterback Willie Copeland and defensive back Quincy Butler from their practice roster.
Courtesy: www.calgaryherald.com
