Edmonton Elks’ general manager Brock Sunderland told the media that there is no timeline for the return of Trevor Harris after he was placed on the team’s six-game injured list on Thursday.
“Anytime you’re dealing with a neck or a head-type of situation, an abundance of caution needs to be taken for the person and that’s what we’re doing with Trevor. That’s why we’ve put him on the six-game — there’s no timetable to these types of injuries,” said Sunderland.
“We’re going to make sure that he’s perfectly healthy and completely safe before we think about football again.”
Sunderland indicated that Harris suffered a neck injury during the team’s recent loss to the Calgary Stampeders during which he was sacked seven times. He was cleared by the medical staff during the game and the days that followed until Wednesday when he pulled himself out of practice.
“Any type of injury like this is unpredictable. These are ones you don’t rush. If it’s an ankle, a knee, a shoulder, you’re very eager if you can maybe get through it. Anytime you’re dealing with a neck or a head-type of situation, it’s the polar opposite,” said Sunderland.
“The challenge here is going to be Trevor. We’re going to have to pull him back. He’s always eager to go.”
CFL teams are permitted to remove players from the six-game injured list early, though the penalty for doing is applying their weekly pay to the salary cap for each game they missed. Unlike players on the one-game injured list, players on the six-game injured list are ineligible to practice with the team.
Sunderland has a lot of confidence in his two backup quarterbacks, saying Cornelius has played in big games before, knows the offence well, and has a very strong arm. The former XFL and Oklahoma State quarterback will be making his first career CFL start on Saturday when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit Commonwealth Stadium.
“We have guys on the roster and depth for a reason,” said Sunderland. “It’s not ideally how you’d draw it up, but it’s football and these things happen. We have to be ready. Taylor (Cornelius) and Dakota (Prukop) are ready to go.”
Sunderland indicated that the team is looking to sign another quarterback for added depth, though no decisions have been made at this time.
