Bombers claim QB Willy healthy

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This article was published 27/09/2014 (4084 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drew Willy is in as the starting quarterback tonight against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, not because the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are desperate, but because he’s been deemed healthy.

The Bombers made the announcement early Friday. Willy will be at the controls for his 6-6 team, which needs wins to keep up in the CFL’s tough West Division.

“I feel fine, ready to play,” Willy said after a week of uncertainty and speculation turned into an eventuality after he took most first-team reps in the final few days of practice. “I look forward to going out there.”

Willy was injured on Sept. 13 in Vancouver, unable to get to halftime because of a shoulder sprain.

“We had the bye week and I didn’t have much else to do,” he said about the time since. “I kind of enjoy being around the (IGF) facility anyway, so I just did what I do when I’m around — getting treatment and watching some film.”

He would not venture an estimation of how good his shoulder is.

“I don’t want to play the whole percentage thing,” he said.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said Willy would not be playing if he was only somewhat healthy, and that the tightness of the standings has nothing to do with it.

“The process was, Drew said he was going to be ready,” O’Shea said. “At the end of the bye week, he progressed quite nicely. And then each and every morning after throwing, he said, ‘I think I can go more,’ and he did to the point where he was able to start and feel good.

“He progressed nicely through the week. We’ll roll with Drew.”

Is O’Shea worried about what the Tiger-Cats might throw at Willy?

“There’s inherent risk in the game of football, but we wouldn’t take any undue risk with our quarterback,” he said.

Bombers halfback Johnny Sears, who’s back in the lineup this week, said Willy’s leadership does spill over to the team.

“Most definitely,” Sears said. “Even if he throws an interception, we’re not going, ‘Damn.’ We’re going, ‘We’re going to get it back for you, get ready. Two plays, you’re going to be back on the field.’ That’s one of the things we try to preach.

“We’ve got their back. We’ve developed that brotherhood with each other. It’s nice. I like it. Willy gives you that sense that we’re always in the game.

“We’ve had the quarterback carousel for a while now, so to see one guy stick in there and really own up to what he’s doing, him being that standup guy, you can do nothing but follow him.”

Willy said he’s more concerned now about the Bombers correcting some recent errors that have seen them lose five of the last six to fall to 6-6.

“We just need to get back to executing at a higher level, all three phases, and we can start with that in this game coming up,” he said.

The task won’t be easy.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca