Inside the CFL: Are they cursed? QB injuries pile up in Week Six

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on July 20, 2023.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Football fans across the country experienced that sickening feeling in the pits of their stomachs when Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ruptured his Achilles’ tendon his first game back exactly one year from the day he suffered a season-ending knee injury. A whole year of pain, suffering and rehabilitation down the drain for the 34-year-old veteran. He likely will never play again.

Then, last Saturday Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris was taken from the field on a cart after sustaining a leg injury. He has had surgery to repair his right-knee Tibial Plateau Fracture and, although the team is optimistic he may return later in the fall, at 37, his future is certainly in doubt. His injury is similar to the one Masoli suffered the previous year. Saskatoon physiotherapist Michelle Donald, interviewed on CKOM radio said Masoli’s rehabilitation took longer because infection set in. Even if Harris avoids that, she indicated full recovery and rehab takes 20 to 40 weeks. Harris faces a difficult future.

In other Week Six bad news, at 0-6, Edmonton got off to its worst start since joining the league in 1949. They also hit the 20 mark in consecutive losses at home, tying the North American professional record. Ottawa started its fourth quarterback in five games, the first time that has happened in CFL history.

The good news? An unbelievable comeback in the nation’s capital, a back-and-forth ding-dong battle between Toronto and Montreal at McGill and a thrilling last play Rene Paredes 50-yard field goal, giving the visiting Stamps a desperately-needed win at Mosaic Stadium.(Shades of Tommy Joe Coffey in last week’s column). It’s no wonder television ratings for CFL games are booming.

The Ottawa David knocking off the Winnipeg Goliath in overtime was truly inspirational. The ineffective Nick Arbuckle was benched in favour of Masoli who in turn was replaced by Tyrie Adams who blew his Achilles. In came Dustin Crum, making his first start in the CFL. The Kent State grad who studied Aeronautical Engineering – he actually is a rocket scientist – struggled in the early going registering 17 yards in the first half and 351 yards in total offence the rest of the way. Trailing 25-6 going into the final frame, who could imagine the great Bomber defence could lose the game. Ottawa was still down by 16 with under three minutes left. An interception return for a touchdown by Brandin Danridge, followed by an 80-yard TD drive and two-point covert sent the game into overtime. Winnipeg scored a field goal which Ottawa had to match. They did better than that with Crum sprinting 29 yards to the end zone.

It was one of the greatest moments in Ottawa football history. It was also desperately needed. On June 30 the Redblacks were challenging Edmonton for the longest home losing streak. They beat the Elks that night and then lost to Hamilton. Since losing the 2018 Grey Cup to Calgary and going into last week’s game, Ottawa has posted a record of 11-43. Attendance was 18,144. This is the third go-around for the CFL in Ottawa and likely the last if winning ways don’t return to the Rideau. The heroic comeback is just what the doctor ordered.

Unlike another losing team, the Redblacks never said die. They refused to be intimated by a great Bomber team and were rewarded in the end. You can see Dustin (his coach Bob Bryce affectionately calls him Dusty; two weeks ago it was What’s His Name) Crum and his brave band of lumberjacks Sunday night when they take on the Stampeders in Calgary.

What would Saskatchewan football be without a quarterback controversy? Other than those minutes last Saturday when he replaced Trevor Harris, I haven’t seen anything in the play of Mason Fine to believe he can be a starter in this league. Coach Craig Dickenson benched Cody Fajardo in favour of Fine for the last two games of 2022 and they lost both must-win games to a mediocre Calgary team. I lean toward Jake Dolegala who has a strong arm and can run.

Saskatchewan plays B.C. Saturday. After that they take on the Argos in Toronto. I doubt a healthy Harris would win either game. Fine will undergo a baptism of fire. I hope he proves me wrong.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 51 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.