Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly says he will be OK to play in East final

HAMILTON — Despite missing most of the fourth quarter of the Eskimos’ 24-21 playoff win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after being sandwiched in a tackle, Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly downplayed the injury Sunday.

“I’ve played through worse than whatever it is that I’ll be dealing with,” said Reilly, adding he had no doubt that he would be ready for next Sunday’s Eastern final in Ottawa.

The Eskimos nominee for most outstanding player was crunched by Simoni Lawrence and Jermaine Robinson on a run some two-and-a-half minutes into the final quarter of the Eastern semifinal at Tim Hortons Field. He left the field, with trainers looking at his left arm and shoulder on the sideline. Reilly went to the locker-room to be checked out further but soon returned. 

Reilly, who said the arm “feels good,” said he told the coaches he was available after he tryied throwing the ball. But they opted to keep going with backup James Franklin, with running back John White carrying most of the offensive load.

Head coach Jason Maas would only say Reilly had an “upper body injury.”

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“We’ll just evaluate him (Monday),” he said. “I know this. If there’s one quarterback that can play through what he has, it’s him. .. I also have faith in James and Jordan (Lynch). So whatever it takes, we’ll do.”

Reilly is in for a busy week. His wife Emily is due to deliver a baby Monday.

“We’re going to do the delivery and I’ll probably be watching Ottawa film while I’m in the room — if my wife allows it. So we’ll see how it goes,” he said with a laugh.

Reilly paid tribute to his wife when asked if it was difficult to play with a pending addition to the family.

“I’m blessed to have an amazing wife that really takes all the stress from me having to deal with that,” he said. “She’s done an amazing job.”

Still the quarterback told Eskimos equipment manager Dwayne Mandrusiak to keep his phone close, telling him “she knows you’re the first person that she’s supposed to call.”

His wife can count on a support group of other wives until he gets back, he said.

Reilly completed 10 of 19 passes for 133 yards in high winds. He also ran for 20 yards. Franklin was good on two of four pass attempts for 19 yards.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press