The Edmonton Eskimos strengthened their backfield on Thursday as they re-signed international running back John White to a one-year contract.
White will be entering his sixth season with the Eskimos after being limited to just two games in the 2017 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee in week two against the Montreal Alouettes.
White recorded 112 rushing yards and a touchdown in two games last season.
C.J. Gable finished the 2017 season as the Eskimos starting running back and general manager Brock Sunderland says that won’t change heading into this season.
“He knows what the situation is C.J. Gable is our starter, he’s the incumbent and John’s not coming in to be the starter,” Sunderland said. “You can never have to many running backs and if any team in all of pro football understands what it means to have depth we do especially after last season.”
White’s career-high in rushing yards came in the 2016 season when he rushed for 886 yards and scored eight touchdowns. He added 484 receiving yards and scored one touchdown in 15 games played. White missed the entire 2015 season after rupturing his Achilles during training camp.
Sunderland says there’s a risk in bringing back White.
“There always is compared to someone who’s never had an injury but if he was 32 it’s different, he’s 26,” Sunderland said. “History usually shows if you do things the right way, you have a good surgery, and you rehab hard. Part of this is we know who he is, he’s proven he can do it. He’s an extremely hard worker and one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around so all of that plays into it.”
Overall, White has recorded 2,110 yards rushing, scoring 12 touchdowns and adding 736 yards receiving and recorded four touchdowns in 41 career games. He has a career 5.6 yard rushing average.
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