4°c Clear
17°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Muamba likely to anchor Bombers' defence Thursday
Henoc Muamba
Related Items
It looks like the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will try a fresh face in the middle of the defence Thursday night.
Second-year linebacker Henoc Muamba has been getting most the reps at the middle linebacker spot in practice this week, a good indication that he will draw the starting assignment when the last-place Bombers (1-5) host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-3) at Canad Inns Stadium (7 p.m.).
Muamba would move ahead over veteran Pierre-Luc Labbe on the depth chart. Labbe has seen most of the minutes at middle linebacker since the start of the season, but with the quick and highly explosive Ticats offence coming to town, the club appears ready to make a change.
"He’s a good athlete," head coach Paul LaPolice said of Muamba after practice Monday. "He’ll have good opportunities to make a play on that tailback, because that tailback is fast. They’re a fast football team."
LaPolice said the club hasn’t made an official decision on the middle linebacker position, but did say there’s a "good chance" Muamba – the top pick in the 2011 draft – will get the call.
As for the rest of the linebacker group will remain status quo.
Marcellus Bowman will occupy one of the spots, with Jonathan Hefney filling in on the other side. Starter Brandon Stewart will miss his fourth straight game with a leg injury. Stewart is hopeful he can return next week.
Other Bombers news from practice Monday:
- Quarterback Buck Pierce was not on the field, a bit of a surprise considering the strides he’s made with his foot injury the last two weeks. The club said he underwent treatment in the morning and was going to be too sore to participate in the two-hour session.
- Jordan Taormina, and not Shannon Boatman, was back with the No. 1 offence at the right tackle position. LaPolice downplayed the sighting by reporters, suggesting the two are simply in a rotation.
- The club welcomed back running back Chad Simpson to the practice field once again. Simpson, who hasn't practised much as he continues to get back from a foot injury, stands to do well against the Hamilton defence: The Tabbies are averaging a league-worst 145 rushing yards against per game this season.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Japanese man, 80, becomes oldest climber to reach top of Mount Everest
1:18 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- New owner for lumber stores
- New downtown tower could be 42 storeys tall: developers
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Man killed after test drive a regular guy, and it cost him his life: widow
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- New owner for lumber stores
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Heritage Winnipeg hosting 10th annual Doors Open Winnipeg this weekend
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- Paying bills and consumer consumption hurting Canadians' ability to save: study
- Underwood leaves fans blown away
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Creative industries can fuel a city's economic engine
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.