And then there were six.
That’s right.
Only six Eskimos have played every single game as the starter at their position this season. They are defensive end Odell Willis and strong-side linebacker Kenny Ladler on defence and quarterback Mike Reilly, fullback Calvin McCarty, slotback Cory Watson and offensive lineman Matt O’Donnell on offence, although O’Donnell had to play one game at left guard because of injuries to other players.
The Eskimos have made 10 lineup changes for Friday’s 7:30 p.m. game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium, resulting in eight – yes, EIGHT! – different starters on defence from last week’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“It’s been the story of our year so far, the ability to overcome adversity, to overcome injuries,” said Esks head coach Jason Maas. “We just need to keep winning to make it the story we want to have it be at the end. That’s more of our focus as coaches, as players, as the organization; to continue to win despite anything that gets thrown our way.
“Obviously, we want to live up to what our expectations were at the beginning of the year. We never specified it was with a certain group of players. It’s everybody in our building is going to have a hand in it and, ultimately, that’s what we want to accomplish.”
Including Friday’s game, the Eskimos have dressed 72 players for games this season and had 38 players spend time on the injured list. Edmonton currently has 20 players on the six-game injured list and receiver Vidal Hazelton on the one-game list, although all-star slotback Adarius Bowman and national linebacker Adam Konar are poised to return to action on Labour Day.
“The most challenging part of our day off after the game, honestly, is figuring out who is available and who will be up,” Maas admitted. “Absolutely, it’s been a challenge, but each week we’re excited about the lineup we put out there.”
This week’s lineup will include the return of all-star defensive tackle Almondo Sewell (bruised ribs), who spent one game on the injured list, and the addition of defensive end John Chick, a former winner of the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player award who was acquired in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last weekend. The Eskimos gave up a 2018 second-round draft pick but also acquired a fifth-round selection next year.
Eskimos general manager Brock Sunderland had previous discussions with the Ticats about Chick but revisited the trade possibilities last weekend.
Although Chick had 16 defensive tackles and only two quarterback sacks this season, the Esks expect to see the player who racked up double figures each of the previous three seasons in their games. Maas called Chick “a consummate pro” and said he will start Friday’s game, but also be part of the rotation on the defensive line.
“He’ll get the snaps needed to provide the contribution we’re looking for,” Maas said.
Chick said the trade came as a shock but was pleased with the move from a 0-8 cellar-dweller to a first-place team at 7-1. The Eskimos’ seven-game win streak to start the season was snapped last week in Winnipeg.
“At the end of the day, it’s our first taste of it,” Maas said about losing. “There’s not one guy in our locker room who wants to taste it again. But we’re also understanding that it’s what you put into each and every day that ultimately decides that. I feel good about our work week and I feel good about the game coming up.”
The Eskimos will be looking to extend their perfect 4-0 record before a big crowd Friday at The Brick Field. The team is hoping to reach 40,000 fans, with Eskimos president & CEO Len Rhodes sending a tweet Thursday that the “largest regular-season @CFL crowd in years will be attending” the game.
“We always take a lot of pride of how we play in front of our fans,” said Reilly, who got a little fired up in response to a comment about the Roughriders’ fans taking over Commonwealth Stadium on Friday.
“I don’t care how many Sask. people show up,” Reilly said. “This is our damn house and this is always a home game here. They do a good job of travelling. There’s no question about it. Their fans show up and support their team regardless of the city that it’s in.
“But make no mistake. They’re coming into our house. This is our building. It’s certainly going to be a different situation than they have at Mosaic (Stadium).”
With the Bombers’ win over the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, Winnipeg (7-2) is currently tied with Edmonton at 14 points. Saskatchewan (3-4) is in last place in the West Division.
“We’ve got a string of Western opponents (Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Calgary Stampeders back-to-back) that we’re playing against and it started last week,” Reilly said. “We didn’t get the job done there, but each week you want to continue to build and that’s the goal, to get back on track in the win column.”
Reilly pointed out that the Eskimos are “getting into the meat of the schedule.”
“People always talk about the season starting on Labour Day,” he said. “You want to peak at the right time when you’re going into the playoffs. You want to be back on track and playing good football when you’re entering this part of the schedule.”
Chick is ready to help the Eskimos do that.
“These guys get after the quarterback, they get after the ball,” he said. “They’re a high-pressure team. To get to be a part of that is a blessing.”
Chick, who will be wearing No. 97, doesn’t feel like he’s lost a step in his game.
“I train the same way and I still get 22-year-olds who can’t keep up with me,” he said.
Among the other defensive changes:
- Mike Moore makes his first start on the D-line with Euclid Cummings going to the injured list.
- Alex Hoffman-Ellis becomes the Eskimos’ third middle linebacker this season with the loss of Korey Jones, who had replaced J.C. Sherritt.
- Terrance Bullitt, who has played special teams in two previous games, becomes the fourth player to start at weak-side linebacker.
- Rookie Arjen Colquhoun was pulled off the six-game injured list after only three games to return to his cornerback position.
- Defensive back Forrest Hightower, who previously played 23 games with the Ottawa Redblacks, makes his first appearance with the Eskimos, filling in for injured defensive halfback Brandyn Thompson.
- And Garry Peters returns from two games on the injured list to play at the other defensive halfback position.
On offence, former first-round draft pick Shamawd Chambers will make his first start at wide receiver (with Chris Getzlaf going to the practice roster) and versatile Brandon Zylstra steps back into the lineup at slotback after missing two games with an injury. Bryant Mitchell (27 catches for 361 yards and two touchdowns during the last five games) shifts from slotback to Hazelton’s wide receiver position.
“Our guys have done a great job of being flexible and shuffling around and playing different positions,” said Reilly, who called Zylstra “a multi-purpose tool for us” because he’s played all of the receiver positions. “Good guy to have back in the lineup. I thought he had a great week of practice, didn’t show any rust and played at a high level of speed, which is what you want to see from a guy who has been out a little bit.”
A newcomer on the roster is international receiver Jamill Smith, who will replace Chris Edwards on kick returns. Smith, who was only signed by Edmonton this week, totalled more than 1,100 yards in kick returns for Ottawa in 2014.
SHORT YARDAGE: The Eskimos announced that long-snapper Ryan King, defensive end Marcus Howard and 2017 draft pick/backup offensive lineman Jean-Simon Roy will all miss the rest of the season. King, who has missed the last three games, has a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Howard ruptured his left Achilles tendon two weeks ago. And Roy tore his right ACL last week at Winnipeg. That’s at least six Edmonton players with season-ending injuries this year. Sherritt, running back John White and linebacker Cory Greenwood, who was hurt in training camp, are the others.