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Stampeders’ QB Drew Tate’s off for a MRI, which could be concerning for Calgary fans

andrew bucholtz

There's a chance the Calgary Stampeders' 36-21 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Friday might not have been the worst thing to happen to the club that day. Starting quarterback Drew Tate left the game with five minutes remaining, and although he said afterwards he'd be set to go in the Stampeders' next game, Saturday saw him head off for a MRI to examine his elbow. From George Johnson of The Calgary Herald:

The injury-bitten quarterback was off to have an MRI performed on a suddenly-problematical elbow.

“That’s where he’s at right now,’’ said coach John Hufnagel in drizzly conditions. “We’re hoping for the best. He was battling a little bit of tendinitis. Whether it’s more than that, we’re not quite sure right now.

“It probably developed as the game went along because I didn’t realize there was a problem until the time he thought he should come out.’’

That sounds more problematic than how Tate described it Friday night after the game. From Scott Mitchell of The Calgary Sun:

“Drew has some tendonitis right now,” Stamps GM/head coach John Hufnagel said after the game. “It’s been bothering him a little bit, throughout, but it got the point where we felt it was best to take him out and put Kevin in.“I’m just hoping there’s nothing more serious than what it has been.”

Tate, who was sacked twice, wasn’t icing the injury after the game.

“Ya, of course,” Tate said when asked if he’ll be ready to face the Montreal Alouettes in Week 3, refusing to elaborate on the injury.

It's possible the MRI won't reveal anything further, and it's notable that the Stampeders will probably be fine even if they have to do without Tate for a while. Backup quarterback Kevin Glenn filled in ably last year when Tate went down with a shoulder injury for most of the regular-season campaign, and did so again in the West Final and the Grey Cup after Tate suffered a fractured wrist in the West semi-final. Thus, the team isn't necessarily going to be doomed if he can't play.

Still, Tate again proved to be the Stampeders' top quarterback in training camp and the preseason, and he was playing well again this year. He played well in their 44-32 win over B.C. in Week One, completing 19 of 27 passes (70.3 per cent) for 237 yards and three touchdowns (with one interception), and he was one of the brightest spots in Friday's loss, completing 19 of his 25 throws (a 76 per cent mark) for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Tate brings an efficiency that Glenn hasn't often been able to match, and he's demonstrated that he's Calgary's best quarterbacking option when he's healthy. His inability to stay healthy is concerning, though, and losing him could still be a significant blow to the Stampeders' high hopes. We'll see how the MRI turns out. There's no need for Calgary fans to panic just yet, especially given that they have a more-than-capable backup in Glenn if things do turn out for the worst, but this is still potentially a big problem for the Stampeders.