The Calgary Stampeders released their final injury report ahead of their season-opener against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday and have become the first CFL team to identify players who have entered COVID protocol.
According to the report, linebacker Silas Stewart and defensive lineman Stefen Banks have been ruled out for Saturday due to COVID protocol. Details of the situation and whether the players recorded a positive COVID test have not been disclosed.
Earlier Friday, the Edmonton Elks canceled their walkthrough practice and subsequent media availability due to COVID protocol. At this point, there is ‘no concern’ for cancellation of that game, according to the club.
Calgary has proceeded as normal by all accounts.
The league’s cancellation policy further states a game will be cancelled if any of the following conditions are met:
- Its’ playing is precluded by a decision by a government health authority.
- A team does not have 36 players to dress for the game;
- A team does not have an individual available to coach the offence and another individual to coach the defence;
- A team does not have a certified athletic therapist and sports medicine physician available for the game.
In addition, the commissioner can cancel a game at his discretion following consultation with the CFL’s chief medical officers and the CFLPA.
If a game cannot be played as scheduled because of COVID-19 issues, and it cannot be rescheduled:
- And one club is suffering from the COVID-19 issues, that club will forfeit the game and be assigned a loss while its’ opponent will be credited with a win by a score of 1-0.
- And both clubs are suffering from the COVID-19 issues, then both clubs will forfeit the game and be assigned a loss.
In both of these circumstances, if a team can prove that 85 per cent of its’ players under contract have been vaccinated, at least once and preferably fully, its players will receive their salary for the cancelled game. If the team falls below that 85 per cent threshold, the entire team will not receive its salary.
As of last Friday’s league-wide roster cutdown, 79 per cent of CFL players are fully or partially vaccinated. Three CFL teams have more than 85 per cent of their players vaccinated. The other six teams have vaccination rates ranging from 67 per cent to 81 per cent.
