Season a writeoff for Douglas

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/07/2012 (4814 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HOW do you miss a player when you never really had him in the fold to begin with?

That’s the question the Blue Bombers are facing these days with news that starting right tackle Andre Douglas will be out for the season with an ankle injury. The club confirmed this Monday, a week after the 25-year-old import returned to the injured list after turning his left ankle at practice.

“He had a flare-up on his ankle,” head coach Paul LaPolice told reporters Monday afternoon. “He’s got a (tendon) that keeps moving back and forth and it’s going to have to be surgically repaired, so he’ll be done for the year.”

The third-year lineman is scheduled to go under the knife Aug. 13. The team has already placed him on the nine-game injured list.

Douglas hasn’t played a game this year after dealing with a hip injury through most of training camp and the first four weeks of the season, but was slated to return to his starting position against Edmonton before injuring the ankle.

After getting checked out by doctors, the player and club were informed of their options regarding the injury late last week. LaPolice said Douglas’ ankle has been a recurring problem during his time in Winnipeg.

It’s difficult to say if the Bombers will really miss Douglas, as the club hasn’t had him this year and his replacement, Jordan Taormina, hasn’t missed a beat in his place. Taormina, a rookie, had a slow start getting used to the speed of the CFL game, but has looked more and more comfortable as each game passes.

Shannon Boatman will now move up a spot on the depth chart as a backup offensive tackle. The Bombers said they have no immediate plans to add a lineman to the practice roster.

— — —

The injury news for the rest of the roster remains in a holding pattern.

Safety Ian Logan (lower body), linebacker Brandon Stewart (lower body) and defensive back Alex Suber (lower body) have already been ruled out for the Montreal game, according to the club.

Defensive backs Johnny Sears and Jeremy McGee, along with running back Chad Simpson and receiver Chris Matthews, all sat out Monday to heal up various bumps and bruises. They should be back this morning, LaPolice said.

McGee is dealing with a hamstring issue, but the club is hopeful he can fight through it for another week.

Running back Carl Volny (hamstring) won’t be available until after the bye week, the team indicated.

Defensive tackle Brandon Collier and defensive end Kenny Mainor (ankle) were full participants at practice, but no timeline was given for their return. Collier was originally believed to be out eight weeks with a shoulder injury suffered in the game against Toronto.

— — —

With his performance against the Eskimos last Thursday (26-of-38 for 294 yards), not only did Alex Brink earn another start at quarterback for the Bombers, he may have earned something even more important — the respect of his teammates.

“Guys want to look at a quarterback and see a guy who can lead them to victories,” said Brink. “When you’re getting wins that increases the way they feel about you, definitely. At the same time, they’re stepping up and making great plays. That builds confidence for themselves and the confidence I have in them.”

Welcome to another by-product of winning football games.

— Adam Wazny

PENALTY, NO

“That was a bogus call. I hit him in the shoulder pads. Watch the replay, I’m sure it was on TSN or some network. When I hit him, he kinda jumped, and it looked like I hit him in the helmet.” — defensive end Alex Hall on his unnecessary roughness penalty against Edmonton (the one where he appeared to punch Steven Jyles in the head).

PENALTY, YES

“No, he hits him in the head. And whether we think that’s acceptable of not or if that’s a cheap call… if his hand nails Jyles in the head in any way, shape, or form that will be called. That’s the standard the league has set. Just have to tackle him lower.” — head coach Paul LaPolice, providing a different take on the play.