Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Eskimos have parted ways with veteran running back John White, according to a report by Justin Dunk of 3 Down Nation.
The report comes as a surprise on the eve of training camp opening Sunday, as the presumed backup to C.J. Gable was brought back during the off-season.
There’s little question who the starting running back is in the City of Champions, as Gable ran away with the job after being acquired by the Eskimos late last season. The former Ticats running back opted to sign an extension in the off-season, solidifying the Eskimos’ rushing attack going into the new campaign.
White, however, was thought to be a valuable insurance policy, despite coming off a season-ending knee injury suffered early in 2017. In his career, White has 2,110 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 5.6-yard average.
In 2016 he was one of the league’s most productive running backs, rushing for a career-high 886 yards and eight touchdowns in his return from a ruptured Achilles.
While White is just 26 and has plenty of time to bounce back, injuries have been a plague through the first five years of his career. He’s lost most of two seasons to separate injuries, limiting him to 41 career games.
White becomes the second back to be let go by the Eskimos recently, after the team also parted ways with Travon Van. Van has since signed with the BC Lions.
