The Calgary Stampeders may have been the CFL's most improved team in 2025, but there is still some work to be done in the medical tent.
Speaking to the media while cleaning out the locker room, head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson spoke about the improvements his organization has made since a barrage of criticism from players last year. However, he seems disappointed that these changes have not resulted in increased availability for athletes.
“As an organization, I felt like we did a lot of things to help our players feel valued. I felt like it came down to how we made a lot of changes in our club – in our gym, our food“The area was new, and I think our owners connected with our players,” Dickenson said.
“Honestly, I think for some reason we have a lot of injuries – too many. We have to look at why. Instead of just saying, 'Oh, these things happen in sports,' we should try to figure out why, because we led the league in the most games with injuries. I think if we're doing our job, we should try to figure out how to bring those numbers down, because it's hard to just keep bringing in more and more guys and trusting that the standard of play is going to be the same.”
The Stampeders have made an impressive turnaround in 2025, rising from last place a year ago to an 11-win playoff team. However, they did this with most men's games lost due to injury of any CFL teamfinishing with 285. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only playoff team to give up more than 200, but were still 36 fewer than Calgary.
Among the key defeats this season were star receiver Reggie Begelton And Prolific pass rusher Folarin Orimoladealthough the bigger problem was the number of players with troubling problems who came in and out of the squad. 21 players were listed as suffering some form of injury in practice in the week leading up to the playoff game, seven of whom played. A whopping 26 players were on the injured list for one or six games. for Saturday's western semi-final loss to the BC Lions.only four of which can be considered healthy scratches.
“We ended the year as the most injured team in the league, and yet the guys had no excuses,” Dickenson said. “They just did the next man thing. 'Give me an opportunity.' I will work as hard as I can to return as soon as possible.”
This isn't the first time injury management has become an issue for the Stampeders. In July 2023 Dickenson publicly tore his team apart due to too many minor injuriespointing the finger at players for not taking proper care of their bodies outside of working hours. However, before the 111th Gray Cup, former running back Ka'Deem Carey suggested that the coaching staff was not up to par. did not allow him to remain on the field during his time in the organization – one of the reasons he was allowed to go to Toronto.
While injuries do sometimes lower the salary cap, especially when major contracts require six-game time, they often impact players' livelihoods in the long run. Dickenson acknowledged that projected availability will continue to play a role in determining which players return this offseason.
“We have quite a few guys in their 30s, some of whom were injured and couldn’t be with us,” he admitted. “We have difficult decisions to make.”
Calgary received a C+ grade for training and medical staff. on the Canadian Football League Players Association's first report card last December, finishing seventh out of nine teams. Head Sports Therapist Stephen Wadey has been with the organization for 10 years and won the Gray Cup in 2018 as an assistant before being promoted to the top job ahead of the 2022 season.
While Dickenson didn't mention the coaches by name, they will presumably be tasked with working with him to address injury issues going forward. Despite all the changes made this year, there is still work to be done if the Stampeders hope to break their six-season drought of playoff victories.
“There are always areas that can be improved,” he said. “I feel like we all need to look in the mirror, myself included, and make sure that next time we take the field we do our best.”
