RIGHT tackle Andre Douglas, who never got on the field this summer, must not be aware of the Blue Bombers team rule that prohibits -- or limits -- media access to injured players.

"Now you guys want to talk to me?" he joked to a swarm of reporters after practice Tuesday.

Douglas was in a good mood, despite the coming surgery on his left ankle that will shelve him for the remainder of the 2012 season (he'll have the operation Aug. 13, the team says). The procedure caps off an incredible two months of injury frustration for the third-year Bomber, as he missed most of training camp the regular season with a hip issue.

Hip healed and his first day back at practice (July 22) and... well, we'll let Douglas explain what happened:

"First day back and I was trying to go for an extra hit just to finish a block and I stepped on a foot and my ankle gave out," he said. "My ligament comes out of place and it flaps around (inside my foot). It has to be re-attached."

Contrary to what the team said Monday, Douglas said the injury is not a re-occurring thing, calling it "all just one big ball of bad luck."

Douglas said he researched the injury to see if he could avoid having the surgery, but was told that he'd need to take care of it eventually, as it would keep being an issue later in his career.

Understandably, the 25-year-old was disappointed that his season never got off the ground. The club re-signed him in the off-season and said he worked hard to come to camp in the best shape of his life.

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The question barely hit the airspace before an answer came out:

Would you like to see Chad Simpson practice more?

"Yes," said head coach Paul LaPolice, providing a quick response suggesting the fact that his starting tailback hasn't really been able to work out with the offence much in practice through the first six weeks has been on his mind.

Simpson was once again a bystander Tuesday, choosing to sit out and take another spin on the exercise bike.

Is it starting to become an issue?

Current Bombers veterans like Jovon Johnson and Terrence Edwards have been critical of players taking the week off and showing up for game in past seasons. With Simpson new to the Bombers and the league, the club can't be too thrilled with him watching during the week and showing up ready for games.

"It's not an issue," LaPolice added. "When we get a bye-week hopefully he (can rest) so he can start practising every day of the week. Especially a guy who hasn't played in this league and needs to practice but at this point, (we) don't have a lot of other options."

Simpson has been dealing with a lower body injury all season.

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The team watched another running back go down Tuesday when non-import Nathan Riva had to be helped off the field with a right hamstring injury.

"That's not a very good injury for us," LaPolice said after practice.

No kidding. After Simpson, Winnipeg is hurting at the running back spot, specifically in the backup role usually reserved for a Canadian player. Carl Volny is still not 100 per cent (the club says he's nursing a hamstring injury) and Anthony Woodson is out for the year with a shoulder injury.

If Volny is a no-go for Friday's game against Montreal (and all indications are he won't be ready), the club will look at using one of its designated import spots on Will Ford, who's been on the practice roster. Winnipeg has yet to use a DI player on offence this season.

"I don't know if Carl is ready," the coach said. "We'll see. (Riva) would be our third Canadian tailback injured, so that's a difficult thing. Ford may have to go."

Canadian fullback Jordan Matechuk left practice with a hand injury and was scheduled to get X-rays later Tuesday.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

DOE DONE

The club released import linebacker Dustin Doe Tuesday. The Florida-product had 18 total tackles and an interception in five games with Winnipeg. Head coach Paul LaPolice said Doe was just too inconsistent on defence and on special teams in recent weeks, so Henoc Muamba and Terrell Parker will back up returning starter Marcellus Bowman at the weak-side linebacker position.

WOMEN'S CAMP

The annual Women's Football Clinic is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 21 at Canad Inns Stadium. Interested women will participate in on-field drills and be "coached up" by the Bombers coaches. Tickets are $80 (lunch and post-event meal included) with proceeds going to Osborne House, a local women's shelter. For more information, call 204-784-2583.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 1, 2012 C4