Edmonton Eskimos' JC Sherritt, 47, celebrates getting the CFL record for most tackles in a season against the Calgary Stampeders during second half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012.Ian Jackson/The Canadian Press
As the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts square off today in the Eastern semi-final, the Esks' best defensive player will not be on the field.
Linebacker J.C. Sherritt, the CFL's leading tackler during the regular season, will miss the game because of a nagging ankle injury. He was the West's nominee for most outstanding defensive player, recording 130 tackles this season, a new league single-season record.
Sherritt had sat out several practices this week. Coach Kavis Reed had indicated on Friday and Saturday that it would take a lot to keep Sherritt out of the game, but that the medical staff was still monitoring the linebacker.
The 5-foot-9, 218-pound Sherritt did not warm up with the Eskimos on Sunday before the 1 p.m. contest at Toronto's Rogers Centre.
Young linebacker Simoni Lawrence was expected to take Sherritt's place in the lineup.