Veteran Canadian offensive lineman Simeon Rottier has retired just prior to the start of training camp, citing a slow recovery from injury.
The Eskimos announced the move on Wednesday.
In nine CFL seasons, Rottier has appeared in 124 career games at left guard, right guard and centre, making 107 starts. He started the first four games of 2017, then missed the rest of the season with a knee injury.
He re-signed with the club in March.
Rottier was the first overall pick in the 2009 CFL Draft and played three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He signed with the Eskimos in 2012, in part to be closer to his family in nearby Westlock, Alberta. He was a CFL all-star in 2015 and won a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2015.
How Rottier’s departure impacts the team’s plans to start four Canadian offensive linemen remains to be seen. The Eskimos have starters Matt O’Donnell, Justin Sorensen, David Beard returning from last season and also have former first-round pick Jacob Ruby as well as 2017 selections Mason Woods and Jean-Simon Roy in development.
