LION-HEARTED STAMPS
Michel to miss significant time due to broken bone, Danny Austin writes.
The Stampeders’ Alex Singleton feeds Aslan, one of two lions at the Calgary Zoo, as a bonding outing with several teammates before this weekend’s showdown with the B.C. Lions at McMahon Stadium on Thursday.
Week after week after week, the Calgary Stampeders keep getting bad news about their receiving corps.
An almost impossibly bad injury situation somehow got even worse Thursday when the Stamps announced that Marken Michel has become the latest receiver who will miss a significant stretch.
“He’s got a broken bone in his scapula, so he’s on (the six-game injured list),” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson. “The timeline will be … let’s hope he’s a religious man and heals fast.”
Michel was hurt on a seemingly inconspicuous play against the Montreal Alouettes on Monday, but the nature of the play is besides the point. An already banged-up Stampeders receiving corps just got stretched even further.
For those who need a refresher, here’s who is out.
Kamar Jorden is done for the season. He was getting talkedabout as the best receiver in the CFL before a knee injury suffered in the Labour Day Classic ended his year.
Da Varis Daniels is fighting to be back before the 2018 season is over after he broke his collarbone against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sept. 15.
Reggie Begelton’s year is over, too, as he required surgery for a broken arm that he suffered against the Toronto Argonauts in Week 16. Begelton had looked like an all-star in the two weeks in which he was filling in for the injured Jorden.
Now, Michel can be added to that list.
Eric Rogers has missed most of the season, too, after needing surgery on his knee.
The good news is that Rogers returned for Monday’s game against the Alouettes, although his availability for Saturday’s matchup with the B.C. Lions (6 p.m., McMahon Stadium) is in question because he has flown to California for the birth of his second child.
“I would think that (Rogers) is going to play,” Dickenson said. “But I’ve always preached family and you’ve got to be there for the birth of your daughter or son. I’m not sure (which). Mother Nature doesn’t always fit things into the schedule you want.”
At Thursday’s practice, it was basically impossible to figure out who would be playing where for the Stampeders this weekend.
The team’s Canadian receivers have done well to step up and make big plays for the Stamps as their American counterparts have been relegated to the sidelines, and Juwan Brescacin in particular has made the most of his opportunity to take on a bigger role.
Julan Lynch and Richard Sindani were both getting rotated in and out at different positions, while American Markeith Ambles looks very likely to play his third straight game.
However the receivers line up Saturday, there will be guys in the lineup who nobody was expecting to see catching balls at point in the season.
“We’re just hoping to have five healthy guys,” Dickenson said. “We looked all right today, actually. The guys are stepping up, it’s just unfortunate with all the injuries and then missing Eric to kind of be the glue, but one man’s loss is another man’s (opportunity). These guys are getting reps and looking good. You know, we’ll have faith that they can get the job done.”
Dickenson also confirmed that Chris Matthews will make his debut for the Stamps. The 2012 CFL Most Outstanding Rookie and NFL standout for the Seattle Seahawks signed with the Stamps about a week and a half ago, and is expected to make his debut for the Red & White on Saturday.
“Chris will be playing, for sure,” Dickenson said. “Not sure exactly where yet, but Chris will be playing.”