Elimimian out for start of season; uncertainty around LaBatte’s health

The Saskatchewan Roughriders could be without a couple notable starters when they head to Hamilton on Thursday to kick off the 2019 CFL regular season.

Linebacker Solomon Elimimian and offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte are both dealing with injuries as the Roughriders prepare for their opening game.

Elimimian signed with the Roughriders late in the off-season. The former CFL Most Outstanding Player has been dealing with a calf injury and didn’t appear in either pre-season game.

“It’s probably going to be a few weeks,” Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day said at Mosaic Stadium Saturday. “It’s not going to be a super long-term thing but we don’t know exactly when he will be able to start practicing again.”

O’Day said when a player has been out as long as Elimimian has, conditioning is a concern.

There’s also question marks about when perennial all-star offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte will return. LaBatte was kept out of the team’s second pre-season game due to a hip issue.

“We’re still evaluating what he’s actually got. We’re going to get some more tests done,” O’Day said. “Anytime you have to go in and look at something, there’s always a chance that you could get bad news that it is more damage than you anticipated.”

O’Day couldn’t say if LaBatte will be ruled out of week one or not.