Injury to Redblacks’ QB Jeremiah Masoli thought to be ‘bone based,’ could return this season: report

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The Ottawa Redblacks will be without starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli for an extended period of time following an illegal hit by Saskatchewan defensive lineman Garrett Marino, but the severity of the injury may not be as bad as initially feared.

According to a report from Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun: The news on Redblacks QB Jeremiah Masoli: It’s believed his leg injury is bone based, not ligament. So while he’s going to be out for a lengthy period of time, there’s a chance he’s back this season.”

TSN’s Farhan Lalji offered further clarification with his own tweet: Some good news on Redblacks Jeremiah Masoli. Will not require reconstructive ACL surgery. However he will have a bone-based surgical procedure. Will be out long term (10-12+ weeks), but there is a chance he will play before end of season.”

Masoli suffered the injury on a late hit from Marino with just over five minutes remaining in the Redblacks’ Week 5 loss to the Roughriders. The play resulted in an ejection for the Saskatchewan defender and drew an outcry from across the league, with Ottawa players also accusing Marino of using racist language and badgering the team at a local restaurant the night before.

After being carried off the field by teammates, many feared a season-ending ACL injury for Masoli. The promising report from Baines provides a glimmer of hope to a struggling Redblacks team that currently sits at the bottom of the league with an 0-4 record.

Ottawa’s prized free-agent addition, Masoli was 84-of-126 passing for 1,083 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions to start the season. The 33-year-old former Hamilton Tiger-Cat was supposed to spark an organizational turnaround after tossing 15,555 yards with 80 touchdowns against 51 interceptions for their East Division rival.