Knee injuries add up for CFL
By IAN BUSBY, QMI Agency
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The knees are getting slapped this year, and it’s no laughing matter.
Maybe it’s just a strange trend that happens every once in a while, but there is a rash of season-ending knee injuries occurring in the CFL this season.
The latest victim is Montreal Alouettes running back Brandon Whitaker, who went down with a torn ACL Sunday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders while trying to make a cut.
The CFL’s reigning rushing champion will require surgery to repair the damage.
Whitaker will be replaced by a player with potential in rookie ball-carrier Victor Anderson, but losing another star is troubling for the league.
Whitaker’s injury came shortly after Als receiver Brian Bratton was spun around after a low hit from Riders defender Chris McKenzie that sent Bratton flipping into the endzone.
While it was obvious what happened to Bratton, who will miss a few weeks with a hyper-extended knee, Calgary Stampeders defensive end Justin Phillips didn’t get touched when he blew out his ACL on the opening kickoff Friday night in a win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Stamps are launching an investigation into their knee injuries, as they have eight players out with long-term issues.
