As the injuries keep piling up for the Eskimos they have had to reach outside the organization for some depth and have added CFL veteran defensive end John Chick.
The 34-year-old, in his eighth CFL season, was acquired from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Sunday by the Eskimos, along with a fifth round 2018 draft pick in exchange for a second round pick, also in next year’s Canadian draft.
Chick played his first of 117 CFL games in 2007 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he won Grey Cups with Saskatchewan in 2007 and 2013. After 2009, Chick spent three seasons in the NFL before returning north. He joined the Tiger-Cats last season after getting released by the Riders and he then enjoyed one of his finest CFL seasons.
In 2016, Chick registered 14 quarterback sacks, two off the league lead and was Hamilton’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player nominee and a CFL All-Star.
The Eskimos need reinforcements at the defensive end spot with both Phillip Hunt and Marcus Howard on the six-game injured list.
A product of Utah State, the 6’4,” 248-pounder has been among the most dangerous pass rushers in the CFL in the last decade. Chick has 69 sacks in 117 career games — two this year along with 16 defensive tackles in eight games played with Hamilton.
Chick travels from the outhouse to the penthouse as he leaves the 0 and 8 Tiger-Cats to join the Eskimos, the CFL’s number one team with a 7 and 1 mark. Chick, who is signed through 2018, is probably destined to join Odell Willis and Kwaku Boateng in a rotation at the DE spot on the Eskimos defence.
Chick’s first game in Green and Gold will be against one of his former teams as the Eskimos host the Saskatchewan Roughriders Friday night on the Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium. Coverage on 630 CHED will start at 6 p.m., kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
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