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Eskimos' Reilly suffers leg injury in season opener, is out indefinitely

REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Quarterback injuries plagued the CFL's much anticipated opening week.

Edmonton Eskimos high-profile starter Mike Reilly suffered a substantial blow Saturday, joining Montreal Alouettes quarterbacks Jonathan Crompton and Dan LeFevour, and Saskatchewan Roughriders signal-caller Darian Durant, who are all already sidelined.

The Eskimos released an update on Reilly, announcing he is out indefinitely and will undergo testing this week.

The Toronto Argonauts hosted the Green and Gold in Fort McMurray, Alta., due to scheduling conflicts arising from the Pan Am Games and Rogers Centre in Toronto.

In the fourth quarter of the northernmost game in CFL history, with the Esks on offense, Argos defensive tackle Cleyon Laing stretched out to impede a throw by Reilly, just after it was released. The Argos lineman made contact with the veteran passer's knee, immediately buckling it and forcing him out of the game. The Boatmen hampered the Eskimos quarterback sailing toward a 26-11 victory.

The 30-year-old Reilly was seen on crutches following the game, and with his head down stated he did not want the league knowing the extent of the injury.

"I don't want this on camera," Reilly told Gerry Moddejonge of the Edmonton Sun, failing to make any further comments.

Esks backup Matt Nichols, who some experts believe is prepared to become a starter, was apprehensive after the game. Laing's borderline tackling has caused several injuries to Edmonton's roster in the past.

"It is a concern," Nichols said. "I would like to believe he's not aiming to try and do that and it's just a coincidence."

Laing received a roughing the passer flag for the low hit on the play, and Eskimos head coach Chris Jones believes the league will handle it.

"That's something that the league is going to have to look at and I'll just leave it up to them," he said. "And hopefully, they'll make the right decision. We're trying to up the offence in the league, so..."

The Eskimos are lucky to enter a bye week for Week 2, while the Argonauts will continue their road voyage when they play the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 5.

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