Stamps’ defence resembling MASH unit

WINNIPEG Maybe Murphy’s Law needs to be amended to describe the Calgary Stampeders’ defensive line.

Anyone who can get hurt, will get hurt.

At least that’s what it felt like Friday in Winnipeg, when the already beat-up line was dealt another blow on their first play.

Kashawn Fraser was helped off the field in the opening seconds of the first quarter with what appeared to be a painful knee injury. It couldn’t have been worse news for the Stampeders.

Fraser was filling in for the injured Ja’Gared Davis. Davis was the fill-in for Cordarro Law, who went down with a leg injury in the Stampeders’ second pre-season game against Edmonton.

Forget the Stampeders’ nextman-up philosophy. On Friday, it was next-next-next-man-up, as the Stamps moved James Vaughters across the line to fill in for Fraser, while Aston Whiteside stepped up to fill the vacant defensive end spot.

Whiteside was only added to the Stampeders’ roster Monday and head coach Dave Dickenson openly admitted he would have preferred to give the newcomer more time to get his feet wet before slotting him in on the defence.

But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Whiteside did what he could to fill in for reigning CFL sack-leader Charleston Hughes, who fortunately won’t be out for long.

“You look back at the beginning of the season, we kind of thought we had too many D-ends,” Dickenson said Thursday. “It’s not as if you already know exactly what these guys can do. They’ve got to prove they’re worthy of playing time and they’re excited for the opportunity.”

TUNDE OUT

A week after putting himself on the CFL map with a spectacular punt-return touchdown, Tunde Adeleke left Friday’s game and did not return.

The specifics of the injury weren’t revealed, but Adeleke was replaced by a punt-return duo of Lemar Durant, a receiver, and Joe Burnett, a defensive back.

HARRIS, AGAIN

Maleki Harris scored his first CFL touchdown in Week 2 against Ottawa, and apparently he liked it so much he wanted another one.

Harris has been filling in admirably at linebacker in Deron Mayo’s absence, but it’s hard to imagine anyone expected him to suddenly emerge as a scoring threat.

Last week, Harris recovered a fumble caused by Alex Singleton and ran the ball in for a TD, but this week he didn’t need any help.

With the Bombers deep in their own territory, QB Matt Nichols put the ball in the air, only to see Harris get his hands on it and scamper 23 yards for the touchdown.

With so many injuries to the Stampeders, young players are getting their chance to show what they can do, and there might not be anyone who has done more with his opportunity than Harris.