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Jonathan Hefney

MONTREAL Alouettes running back Brandon Whittaker is done for the 2012 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during last weekend's Als win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Alouettes announced Tuesday that Whittaker -- last year's leading rusher in the CFL -- will now undergo surgery. Whitaker was second in the CFL this season with 1,147 total yards from scrimmage. Only Saskatchewan's Kory Sheets had more, with 1,192.

The loss of Whitaker will have the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence breathing a little easier. Whitaker feasted on the Bombers this season, putting up a combined 414 all-puprose yards and three TDs in a pair of wins over Winnipeg earlier this summer.

Trouble with Hefney?

BOMBERS head coach Tim Burke was asked on Tuesday if there is something wrong with all-star defensive back Jonathan Hefney.

Hefney had a huge season in 2011 and might very well have won the league's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award had teammate Jovon Johnson not beaten him out as Winnipeg's nominee for the award.

But Hefney has just one interception this season compared to six last year and he has also spent a lot of time, particularly in the last month, staring at the backs of opposing receivers who have beaten him deep.

So has Hefney lost a step? Burke was asked. "I don't think so," he said. "Our numbers (as an overall defence) are down period as far as interceptions and things like that... And in fairness to him too -- he played SAM (linebacker) for five or six weeks.

"But I think all our numbers will improve as soon as we improve our play."

Carroll could start Friday

IF practice this week is any indication, Andre Carroll is going to get the start at defensive tackle Friday night against Hamilton, just days after the Bombers re-signed him as an injury replacement for Brandon Collier.

Carroll was most recently playing with the Jacksonville Sharks of the Arena Football League and he didn't sugar-coat things when asked following practice Tuesday if he is in game-shape.

"I wouldn't say I'm in game shape yet, but I'm getting there," said Carroll, who previously spent time in training camp with both Winnipeg and the NFL's Cleveland Browns.

-- Paul Wiecek

Sick Bay

SB Terrence Edwards, DL Jake Thomas, DB Alex Suber, DB Brandon Stewart and RB Chad Simpson all didn't practice for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium on Tuesday. Head coach Tim Burke said afterward that Edwards, Simpson and Suber are all expected to be back practicing on Wednesday.

Thomas, meanwhile, is out this week for sure, while team officials said last night that Stewart is considered probable for Friday night's contest against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Sorry for the Delay

Bombers head coach Tim Burke was delayed for his daily media availability on Tuesday because he said he'd been summoned into GM Joe Mack's office. "Sorry it took so long, but when the GM calls, I've got to go," said Burke.

Burke downplayed the significance of whatever was discussed between him and Mack. "We were just talking about some future things. Not anything important."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 19, 2012 C3