Rivals trade verbal jabs ahead of rematch

It has been a war of words between Alberta’s two CFL clubs since the Calgary Stampeders won the Labour Day Classic.

Or since the Edmonton Eskimos lost it, depending on whom you ask.

And while Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell took offence to what he called “disrespectful” comments made by the Eskimos following a game they felt they gave away to Calgary, the Eskimos are sticking to their contention the first-place Stampeders are nothing special.

“They’re not a super team, we’re not a super team,” said receiver Duke Williams, who traded punches briefly with Calgary’s Don Jackson at midfield Monday during warm-ups.

“They put on their pants the same way we put on our pants.

“They’re regular. We beat ourselves that game and they know that. Now they’ve got to come to our house.”

But it turns out the verbal bullets began flying long before the players got in front of any microphones.

“I know, me, I was talking reckless out there on that field, so I’m guilty,” said Eskimos defensive end Alex Bazzie, who came up with two of Edmonton’s four sacks against Mitchell.

“I’m definitely guilty. I didn’t say much directly to him, but I was talking to a lot of his weapons and I know just from talking to them and getting them hot it might have probably got him frustrated knowing that they ’re off their game because they’re too busy chitterchatting with me.”

The Eskimos host the Stampeders in a rematch Saturday (5 p.m., TSN, ESPN+, 630 CHED).

WITHOUT WALKER

While the news isn’t good on the injury front regarding Derel Walker, things could be worse for the Eskimos. They could have lost their star receiver for the season like the Stampeders’ Kamar Jorden, who underwent surgery on the knee he injured Monday.

The Eskimos announced Thursday Walker will be out six to eight weeks with a chance he could return either in Week 19 on the road against the B.C. Lions or following the final bye week before the regular-season finale against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Jorden and Walker were No. 2 and 3 on the receiving yards list behind Williams coming into Monday.