Chris O’Leary
Edmonton Journal
If a zoologist needs to find it, the injury bug is comfortably nestled into Commonwealth Stadium, where it feasts buffet style on the Edmonton Eskimos.
After Marcus Howard‘s brief (and impressive) return being cut short on Saturday, the Eskimos have lost the entire starting defensive line to injuries.
Howard, a defensive lineman who led the Esks in quarterback sacks last year, re-aggravated his hamstring injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s 19-18 loss to the BC Lions. He’ll sit out the next few weeks alongside nose tackle Ted Laurent (heel), tackle Etienne Legare (knee, nine-game injured list) and defensive end Julius Williams (knee). Williams and Laurent are expected to be out at least another week.
What was considered the Eskimos’ strongest position at the start of the season is reeling going into the Canadian Football League’s 14th week. Edmonton lost rookie Canadian defensive end Justin Capicciotti on Saturday with a leg injury. Lee Robinson suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in the blowout loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sept. 15.
Eskimo head coach Kavis Reed could only shake his head when he started to discuss the injuries that have weighed the team down.
“It’s one of those years where we’re trying to get healthy on the defensive line, and what was the strength of our football team is really turned into musical chairs,” he said after Saturday’s loss.
“We’re going to try to make certain that we stop the leaks in the dam as soon as possible.”
Reed said that help may be coming soon from players recently cut by National Football League teams.
Meanwhile, receiver Cary Koch bruised his collarbone late in Saturday’s game and will miss practice on Monday.
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