Photo: David Mahussier / 3DownNation. All rights reserved.
The Ottawa Redblacks will not have starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli for an extended period of time after an illegal hit by Saskatchewan defensive end Garrett Marino, but the severity of the injury may not be as bad as initially feared.
According to a report by Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun: “News of Redblacks QB Jeremiah Masoli: His leg injury is believed to be based on bones, not ligaments. So even though he will be out over a long period of time, there is a possibility that he will return this season. “
TSN’s Farhan Lalji offered further clarification with his own tweet: “Some good news about the Jeremiah Masoli Redblacks. He won’t require reconstructive ACL surgery. However, he will have a bone-based surgical procedure. He will be out in the long run ( between 10 and 12 weeks or more), but chances are he will play before the end of the season. “
Masoli was injured in a late shot by Marino just over five minutes before the Redblacks ’Week 5 defeat to the Roughriders. The play resulted in an expulsion from the Saskatchewan defense and sparked screams from across the league, with Ottawa players also accusing Marino of using racist language and mistreating the team at a local restaurant the night before.
After being taken off the field by teammates, many feared an ACL injury for Masoli. Baines ’promising report provides some hope for a struggling Redblacks team that is currently at the end of the league with a 0-4 record.
Masoli, Ottawa’s prized free agent, was 84 of 126 passes for 1,083 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions to start the season. Former Hamilton Tiger-Cat, 33, was due to make an organizational turn after throwing 15,555 yards with 80 touchdowns against 51 interceptions for his East Division rival.