As if it wasn’t busy enough already, the Calgary Stampeders have sent yet another casualty to the team’s infirmary.
At the team’s weekly pre-game walkthrough, the Stampeders announced that returner Larry Taylor would be underdoing surgery to repair knee damage. As a result, Taylor was placed on the nine-game injured list, becoming the 11th Stampeder to go on that list.
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Stamps currently on the 9-game IR: |
Taylor joins a rather unfortunate club; one that already features quarterback Drew Tate, two starting offensive linemen in Steve Myddleton and Na’Shan Goddard, a veteran special teams star, Marc Calixte and, now , an explosive returner.
“It’s just one of those situations,” rationalized Taylor.”
“You’re out on the field trying to make a play. There was a misstep on the play and my knee hyper-extended. It can happen to anyone,” he added.
Maybe it can happen to anyone, but this season, it seems to be happening to everyone wearing red, white and black.
By the end of tonight’s game with Winnipeg, the Stamps will have dressed 62 different players. This week, two players will be making their Stampeders debut.
Defensive end Donovan Robinson takes over from Chris McCoy who is out following knee surgery. The team will also debut receiver Maurice Price. He will back up the receiving core as Romby Bryant recovers from a groin tweak.
“I’m going to come out with a clean mind and I have a clean slate,”noted Robinson. “I’m excited, I’m blessed.”
Robinson is just part of a recent airlift of talent to Stampeders camp. Rush end Stevie Baggs has surfaced with the Stampeders. However, he will be a spectator until a groin injury that he suffered during training camp south of the border fully heals up.
The team also brought in another well-travelled veteran to shore up the return units. Speedy journeyman Jason Armstead has been added to the practice roster.
No matter who is in the Calgary lineup, one thing is certain; they have enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in McMahon Stadium against Winnipeg, with the Stamps winning the last nine meetings between the two clubs on home soil.
Kevin Glenn, a former Bomber quarterback, has a unique perspective on the one-sided rivalry.
“I have no idea,” he said.
“I don’t even remember those things. Let’s go ahead, though, and keep the streak going. But it is going to be a tough one. Their record is no indication of their abilities. They play hard, they play exciting.”
One interesting matchup during the game will be Calgary’s Nik Lewis against Winnipeg’s Jovon Johnson. Both are standouts at their respective positions and the probability is they will see plenty of each other on the field.
Johnson downplayed the head-to-head battle.
“It doesn’t matter. I play whoever is in front of me. If it’s Nik or if it’s McDaniel. I’m always up for a challenge,” noted the six year veteran.
“I’m not scared of him and I’m not going to back down from him.”
Lewis, for his part, is ready for the matchup.
“Hopefully, they believe Johnson can guard me man-to-man,” noted Lewis who sits 77 yards short of cracking the 10,000-yard barrier for his career.
“If not they’ll double me and then we’ll see what happens.”
What has happened is the Stampeders have fought through a tough injury stretch to keep right in the West Division race. Will it continue against Winnipeg?
