Tiger-Cat linebacker Erik Harris grimaced at the news.
The Bombers have announced that quarterback Drew Willy will miss six to eight weeks with a knee injury suffered when Harris hit him in the third quarter of the Ticats’ 38-8 win on Sunday.
The team said Tuesday that Willy suffered a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee as well as a partial ligament tear.
“Before every game, I pray that both sides stay healthy, ” Harris said. “It was a clean play, but it was unfortunate.”
Harris said he reached out to Willy on Twitter after the game to express his concern. He didn’t hear back but says that’s understandable, given the circumstances.
“I have a ton of respect for the guy. He’s a warrior, ” Harris said.
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Emanuel Davis isn’t having much trouble keeping his recent success in perspective. After all, the Ticats have already cut him once.
The 26-year-old defensive back was released at the end of training camp in 2013 before returning to the club a month later. He has been in and out of the lineup since – 13 games that first season, just eight last year – before starting every game this year.
He’s certainly made the most of it. Davis had two interceptions in last Sunday’s win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, returning both for touchdowns. The performance earned his recognition as one of the CFL’s top performers of the week.
“The thing that’s great is that he’s taken advantage of an opportunity and persevered, ” head coach Kent Austin said. “It’s great to see players that are committed like that have another opportunity and take advantage of it.”
Davis now has three interception returns for touchdowns on the season after also getting one in week two, again courtesy of the Bombers.
The CFL record for interceptions returned for a touchdown in a single season is five, but Davis says he isn’t thinking about the record; he’s just focused on keeping his job.
“I’m just trying to make every play that comes to me, ” he said. “I know it can go either way at any time, so I’m just trying to stay level-headed and humble.”
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The Ticats are also dealing with injury issues of their own.
Linebacker Simoni Lawrence, Canadian defensive back Courtney Stephen and receiver Terrence Tolliver all sat out Monday’s practice session at Tim Hortons Field, the team’s first as they prepare for next Saturday’s matchup against the visiting B.C. Lions.
“We don’t think it’s very serious but we’ll see, ” Austin said.
The team is already missing running back C.J. Gable and Canadian receiver Andy Fantuz, both of whom are out for an extended period with arm injuries. Canadian safety Craig Butler and offensive tackle Joel Figueroa, both of whom missed last week due to injury, also missed Monday’s session, though Austin said Butler could play this week.
