Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
WINNIPEG — Jamaal Westerman has suffered a season-ending injury, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Tuesday.
The team revealed that Westerman was dealt an upper-body injury in the team’s Banjo Bowl win over the Riders, although it’s unknown how exactly the injury happened.
“It’s always disappointing when something like this happens,” Westerman told the team’s official website, BlueBombers.com. “One of my biggest things throughout my career has been to always be available to my team. That’s one of the things coaches have always taught me: The best ability is availability.
“That’s how I’ve tried to be accountable to this team. They brought me in here and they didn’t do so for me to sit on the sideline or miss reps, practices or games.”
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Westerman, 32, is second in the CFL with seven sacks through 11 games. Since coming to the Bombers from the NFL, he’s recorded 32 sacks in 47 games, wasting no time emerging as one of the league’s premiere pass rushers over the last few seasons.
The Bombers are tied for fourth in the league with 25 sacks. They’ll now lean on defensive ends Tristan Okpalaugo and Jackson Jeffcoat to replace Westerman’s production. Canadian Trent Corney and international Shayon Green could be options off the practice squad.
Westerman says he’s not sure how the injury happened.
“I have no clue,” he said. “I probably took a hit, it could have happened when I fell or pushed off somebody or somebody might have rolled up on me.
“I’m not exactly sure which play in the game it happened, but I knew after the game and after talking with the trainers that something wasn’t right.”
Fresh off the bye week, the Bombers take on the REDBLACKS at Investors Group Field on Friday night, when they’ll look to improve to 9-3 on the season.
– With files from Ed Tait/BlueBombers.com
