‘That has been the injury of the year’ Stamps’ Dave Dickenson ‘very sad’ for players suffering torn Achilles

2021 has become the season of the Achilles tear in the Canadian Football League and training camp isn’t even over.

“That has been the injury of the year and it’s very sad,” Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson said in a videoconference.

Officially nine players have suffered season-ending Achilles injuries, five in Saskatchewan, two in Montreal, one in Winnipeg and one in Calgary.

“I wish I knew for the players why this is happening, I think it’s a bit of an anomaly. I wish we knew and could help out. I know my brother there in Sask they’ve had five,” Dickenson said.

The Roughriders suffered four in one session when Linebacker Larry Dean, defensive lineman Freddie Bishop, defensive back Nelson Lokombo and running back Jonathan Femi-Cole hit the turf. And on the Friday prior to the Green and White scrimmage, defensive lineman Tim Williams went down.

Meanwhile, receiver Teo Redding and defensive back Ryan Carter had setbacks occur with the Alouettes. Blue Bombers defensive back Mercy Maston and Stamps fullback Charlie Power also heard the dreaded pop.

“I don’t feel like we are pushing these guys any more, probably less than any other year I’ve ever had a camp,” Dickenson said. “Our practices are not long, but things like these can happen, and will happen, and will happen again — it’s very unfortunate.”