Derel Walker to miss next 6-8 weeks with knee injury

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Eskimos announced Thursday that they will be without star receiver Derel Walker for the next six to eight weeks after he sustained sustained a knee injury during Monday’s game versus the Calgary Stampeders.

Walker left Monday’s Labour Day Classic in Calgary in the second quarter when he took a hit from Stampeders defensive back Tre Roberson.

“We’re hoping its not (for the season) and it is the first injury he has ever had so nobody knows how fast he can get back into it,” head coach Jason Maas told reporters Thursday afternoon. “We have an idea and athletes are special in recovery at times and we are just hoping Derel works hard to get himself back”

Walker’s absence is significant for an Eskimos offence that held two of the top three receivers in the CFL heading into Week 12.  Walker entered with 875 yards receiving and a league-leading eight touchdowns.

Without one of their top pass-catchers, the Eskimos will look to get back in the win column after dropping three of their last four games and two straight.  They host Calgary in the back half of their Labour Day home-and-home this Saturday.