The Saskatchewan Roughriders ended their chances of making the CFL playoffs with a 32-31 loss to the Calgary Stampeders.
Head coach Craig Dickenson and general manager Jeremy O’Day have come under fire over the last two months as the Riders have struggled immensely since starting the season 4-1.
The Stampeders, who are 11-6 and playoff bound, handed the Riders their sixth straight home loss.
Dickenson was asked after the game if he had received any assurances that he and O’Day would maintain their positions for the 2023 season.
“No but we’re going to keep working like we are,” said Dickenson, who has a 28-21 record as Saskatchewan’s head coach.
The loss wasn’t made easier by free safety Mike Edem getting bulldozed by Calgary running back Dedrick Mills in a violent collision that left Edem motionless on the turf.
A nine-minute delay ensued as fans in the stands and viewers on TSN watched with concern as Edem was carefully lifted onto a cart with his neck stabilized in a brace.
“What we’ve been told is he was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons,” Dickenson said after the game. “He’s doing fine. All signs point to being OK, so we’ll keep giving our thoughts but that was a tough one to see out there.”
“I thought it was deflating for both teams really. You saw everybody was out there. Football is a violent game, a very physical game, and there’s moments like that when it gets a little scary.
“But I thought our guys rallied back and played hard again. That was a deflating moment for all of us. Nobody wants to see that and we’ll try to give you an update when we know more but it sounds like he’s going to be alright.”
Both teams left their benches and gathered on the field near the injury scene to show their concern for Edem, waiting for him to be loaded onto the cart as silence fell over the stadium.
