Argonauts' Tyler Ebell out for season
Toronto trades for Riders RB
Last Updated: Thursday, June 5, 2008 | 6:49 PM ET
CBC Sports
Tyler Ebell ran for 650 yards as a rookie with the Eskimos last season. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)Toronto Argonauts running back Tyler Ebell will miss the season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in a camp drill on Wednesday.
Coach Rich Stubler confirmed at the team's Mississauga, Ont., training camp that the runner would undergo surgery and would not recover in time to play this year.
Ebell, who came from the Edmonton Eskimos in the off-season along with receiver T.J. Acree in exchange for outstanding cornerback Jordan Younger, ran for 650 yards as a rookie in 2007.
The plan was to use Ebell as the basis for a rebuilt backfield that Stubler hoped would be reliable and injury free.
Andre Durie and Jeff Johnson return to the backfield, but both are recovering from serious injuries. Returner Dominique Dorsey, at five-foot-seven, is probably not built for No. 1 duty.
So the Argos traded Thursday afternoon for Saskatchewan running back Jamal Robertson, sending Canadian defensive back Leron Mitchell the other way. The Argos also reportedly signed Ciatrick Fason, who played at the University of Florida.
Robertson began his professional career with Calgary in 2001, and has spent time in NFL Europa, plus in the National Football League with Atlanta, Carolina and San Francisco.
He was signed in November last year when the Roughriders endured a rash of injuries of the position, but Wes Cates and Chris Szarka are back healthy. As well, the team brought in former U.S. collegiate star Quenton Griffin for a look.
Mitchell was a depth player in Toronto's stacked secondary but starred on special teams. Saskatchewan general manager Eric Tillman sees a lot of potential.
"We're very pleased to get Leron,” said Tillman. “He's a young, high character guy who has already proven to be a very good special teams player. At 25, we believe Leron has a bright future, and, as an organization, we certainly place a premium on quality young Canadians."
Mitchell, from London, Ont., recovered three fumbles and made 13 tackles on special teams last year.
