Stamps QB Tate to undergo shoulder surgery

It was a short stint for Drew Tate as Calgary’s starting quarterback.

The Stampeders announced Sunday the Iowa grad will be operated on this week by Dr. James Stewart, the CFL club’s orthopedic surgeon and will likely miss the rest of the 2012 CFL season.

A projected four month recovery might put Tate back by playoff time, but the team is pointing towards next year.

“Drew stopped by my office this morning and told me about his decision to have his shoulder operated on,” said John Hufnagel, the Stamps’ head coach and general manager, in a release. “We are here to support drew in his recovery and look forward to having him back on the football field in four months.”

Tate hurt the shoulder while running towards the sidelines in a Week 2 game against the Toronto Argonauts. Tackled, he fell awkwardly and immediately grasped the joint in pain.

It was the same shoulder he dislocated in a pre-season game prior to 2011.

After two seasons on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ practice roster or injured list, Tate came to the Stamps as a free agent in 2009, backing up Henry Burris.

Three games from the playoffs last season, he took over the starting reigns when Burris, since traded, fell out of favour. Kevin Glenn will continue as the starting pivot for Calgary.