Nothing to worry about, Canada

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/07/2011 (5519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Oh no, Canada.

That was the feeling at Bombers practice Wednesday as rookie non-import wide receiver Jade Etienne made his way to the receiver’s group without his helmet.

The 2011 first-round pick (fourth overall) did not work out with the team, but that’s because the club — already dealing with a number of injuries on offence — chose to hold him out and not risk aggravating the back spasms he’s been dealing with.

National crisis averted.

Etienne is still scheduled to make his pro debut when the Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts at Canad Inns Stadium Friday (6:30 p.m., TSN, CJOB).

The lanky wideout is expected to serve as the backup non-import receiver behind Aaron Hargreaves (who moves into WR Kito Poblah’s starting spot) and Cory Watson. Poblah’s torn PCL (knee) landed him on the nine-game injured reserve list earlier this week.

“Down to three Canadian receivers, so they (the coaches) didn’t want to risk it,” said Etienne, who remains as the only healthy 2011 first-round draft pick in Bomberland (top pick LB Henoc Muamba is still out with a knee injury).

“I’m pretty excited about getting the chance to play, or at least dress,” Etienne said.

There’s been a lot of talk about the Regina product in this early stage of his career. He had a slow start to training camp and many wondered if he was physically ready to compete at the professional level (he’s a lean 6-foot-3, 184 pounds).

But Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice isn’t worried about how Etienne will do Friday. Sure, at 21 the speedy Etienne might be the youngest player in the league, but he has the tools, the coach says, to run past any vast experience.

“It’s really not about age, it’s just about how good you are and how you perform,” LaPolice said.

Like Etienne, Hargreaves is getting an increased role because of the injury to Poblah, Winnipeg’s prized supplemental draft selection. It’s hard to know if Hargreaves lost his job to the rookie in camp (the fourth-year Bomber was out for a spell with an ankle injury), but that’s no matter: Hargreaves is starting Friday.

“He’s a guy who’s been a very good plug-and-play guy,” LaPolice said. “I like that’s he’s come in faster this year — he’s under 220 (pounds) right now, and is moving well.”

In other receiver news, veteran SB Terrence Edwards participated in some of the workouts Wednesday, running some routes and doing some footwork drills on the sidelines. He didn’t, however, do any work with the first offence, a sign that he may not be ready for the Argos.

“Hopefully, we’ll get him back,” was the extent of LaPolice’s forecast Wednesday.

Wideout Greg Carr (hamstring) is also a big “maybe” heading into this morning’s walk-through. Rookies Perry Floyd and Clarence Denmark saw a lot of time in the offence at practice and will replace Edwards and Carr if they can’t go Friday.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

Denmark was anxious to lock down his situation.

“You just want to fill your role, step in when your number is called, and show the coaches that they can trust you,” said Denmark, who is generously listed at 5-foot-11, 187 pounds.

“The good part about this is that if I do get to play, those guys (Edwards and Carr) will be on the sidelines talking to me, making sure I know all my assignments.”

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca