Eskimos' Messam on the limp
By GERRY MODDEJONGE, QMI Agency
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  Edmonton Eskimo Jerome Messam during practice at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta on Thursday, November 10, 2011. (AMBER BRACKEN/QMI Agency)
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Jerome Messam has been listed as questionable for Sunday’s playoff game with a lower-body injury.
The Edmonton Eskimos running back saw limited use on Thursday, seeing action for the first time since leaving Monday’s practice early with what the team is calling a lower-body injury.
“We think he should be fine,” said head coach Kavis Reed. “It’s a situation where we thought we had something under control and it just flared up in practice on Monday.
“Now we’re going to go a couple of days probably without him repping with it being questionable. Obviously, Jerome Messam is a very important part of our offence, so it does concern us but it’s on the 50-50 side.”
The West Division’s nominee for most-outstanding Canadian player, the 1,000-yard rusher dressed for all 18 games of the season. But the Eskimos are approaching his injury differently than they would during the regular season.
“Yeah, it’s one-and-done and we’re playing a very good football team and especially a very good defence. It does change it,” Kavis said. “But this team has always been resilient. This team has always found a way to respond to injuries.”
Sunday’s response would come in the form of Hugh Charles,
“He’s got to play,” Charles said of Messam. “There’s got to be a fight in him to come back and play in the big game.
“It’s do or die and you never know if you’re going to get this opportunity again.”
gerry.moddejonge@sunmedia.ca
Twitter@SunModdejonge
