The Hamilton Tiger-Cats could be getting some good news at the quarterback position this week.
Jeremiah Masoli got the majority of reps at practice Thursday and according to Ticats’ head coach Orlondo Steinauer, should be good to go for Saturday.
“Jeremiah probably took 90 percent of the throws today and that was on purpose,” he told the media. “Barring anything that doesn’t come up we would expect Jeremiah to have a high likelihood of starting for us. At a minimum he’ll suit up, but again his injury is about pain tolerance and whatnot but we like what we saw there.”
Masoli has been out since suffering a rib injury against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 2. Since then Hamilton has seen Dane Evans and David Watford start games under centre.
Meanwhile, the team also announced they have released veteran receiver DeVier Posey.
Posey has been out all season after suffering a calf injury in training camp. In his absence Hamilton has seen young receivers step up, including Papi White, Tim White, and Steven Dunbar Jr. Meanwhile, both Brandon Banks and Bralon Addison practiced for the team this week, putting Posey on the wrong side of the numbers game.
Steinauer says he’d rather deal with the problem of having too many good players than not have enough.
“We keep people around here that we really think can play and obviously they think they can play too and unfortunately everybody can’t play each week,” Steinauer says.
“It’s a great challenge to have, I’d rather have that than say, ‘Boy I hope we don’t get hurt in that area, cause I don’t really like what we got there.’ I’ll take this type of challenge each day but it’s just kind of part of ball.”
Posey won the 105th Grey Cup with the Argonauts and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after hauling in seven receptions for 175 yards, including a Grey Cup record 100-yard touchdown reception.
The 31-year-old clearly left an impression on his now former coach.
“He came in and he was a pro. He was active the whole time in trying to help the receivers get better. He was even helping Jarryd Banes, our receivers coach, help prepare and do reports. I have nothing but good things about DeVier. There is tough decisions to be made and I don’t relish these ones at all,” Steinauer explains.
“These are tough decisions and there are going to be more to be made. We wish him the best and he was awesome in the time he was a Hamilton Tiger-Cat and I would be very shocked if he’s not playing for somebody by the end of the year.”
The East Division-leading Ticats (4-3) host Montreal (2-4) Saturday afternoon.