Injury bug hits Stamps ahead of clash with Redblacks

Ahead of Friday night’s clash against the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place Stadium, the Calgary Stampeders are fighting the injury bug – and it’s not just their players.

Head coach Dave Dickenson remains a game-time decision after testing positive and spending the past week in the Canadian Football League’s COVID-19 protocol. Special teams coordinator Mark Killam, who also serves as the team’s assistant coach, has been running practice and will fill in if Dickenson is unavailable on Friday.

UPDATE: Dickenson has been officially ruled out of coaching Friday's game.

“I’ve been preparing like I am [going to coach] just in case,” Killam said this week.

“We're just preparing – myself and the rest of the coaching staff – just to handle our business." 

Meanwhile, running back Ka’Deem Carey, who scored twice in the team’s Week 8 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Saturday, is out with a hamstring injury while cornerback Tre Roberson and centre Sean McEwen were both placed on the six-game injured list after leaving last week’s game.

The Stampeders defensive backfield will look different in Week 9 after the team shocked many CFL observers by releasing starting safety Raheem Wilson earlier this week. The 28-year-old started more than 30 games in his two seasons with the club, including all six games this season and all 14 games during the pandemic-shortened 2021 season.

Lining up in his place during practice this week was Branden Dozier, who was one of several Stampeders injured during training camp and is suiting up for his first game of the 2022 campaign. Killam called Dozier the team’s best two-phase player last season after he led the group with 17 special teams tackles. Dionté Ruffin will shift from safety to corner to replace Roberson, while Trumaine Washington draws into the lineup at safety.

On offence, running back Dedrick Mills enters the lineup in place of Carey, and receiver Richie Sindani returns to game action after missing the past three games due to a hamstring issue. Fellow receiver Luther Hakunavanhu will miss the game because of a hamstring injury of his own.

Unlike previous versions of the Stampeders, this year the team is not reliant solely on the arm of Bo Levi Mitchell to generate points and instead now have a consistent running game. The past four seasons, they have finished no higher than sixth in the CFL in rushing yards per game.

In 2022, Calgary uncharacteristically ranks sixth in passing yards per game (266.8) and seventh in passing touchdowns (7). On the ground, meanwhile, they are second in yards per game (116.3) and third in touchdowns (8). Carey is second among running backs with five touchdowns and 471 yards. His five runs of over 20 yards lead all CFL backs.

Although Friday’s game is important in the standings for the Stampeders (4-2, third in the West Division) it might have even more significance for Calgary away from the field of play. In a league where teams typically play under 20 games a season, longtime Stampeders equipment manager George Hopkins will work his 1,000th career game. Since assuming the role in 1977, he has only missed five games.

“I’ve known Geo for a long time and I’ve seen his passion and commitment to the Red and White,” Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement.

“He’s been a big part of this franchise for almost two-thirds of its 77-year history and there aren’t many people in the CFL who are more closely associated with a team than Geo is with the Stampeders.”

The Stampeders plan on honouring him at an upcoming home game.