Bombers’ Harris remains sidelined; status against Stamps uncertain

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/09/2016 (3605 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris missed a third straight practice on Thursday, but coach Mike O’Shea hasn’t ruled him out for Saturday’s game in Calgary against the Stampeders.

“All these guys, you develop a level of trust with them and you give them every opportunity you can,” said O’Shea. “You give them the most amount of time you can for them to be able to compete on game day. And I’ve got no problem with that.”

Also missing from practice this week was linebacker Ian Wild and Quincy McDuffie, with McDuffie practising Wednesday but absent the other two days. Receiver Ryan Smith missed practice Tuesday but has been on the field the past two days and on Thursday was working with the first-team offence.

“No, I can’t lock him in,” O’Shea said on Smith, who missed last week with a thumb injury. “I’ve got to talk to (athletic therapist) Al (Couture) and see where things end up.”

Harris, who was ruled out an hour before last week’s tilt against the Toronto Argonauts after suffering a lower-body injury during the Banjo Bowl against Saskatchewan the week before, looks to be another game-time decision this week.

If Harris can’t go, the Bombers will turn once again to Timothy Flanders. Flanders filled in well against Toronto, finishing the game with 19 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, while also adding four catches for 34 yards.

“He’s a guy we’ve liked all along,” said O’Shea. “Every time he’s been in there, every opportunity he’s gotten he’s made pretty good on.”

T.J. Heath, who was acquired in last week’s trade that sent quarterback Drew Willy to Toronto, will make his debut with the Blue and Gold this week backing up in the defensive secondary. Heath has five interceptions this season, just one behind Bombers linebacker Maurice Leggett for the league lead.

The Bombers and Stampeders both head into Saturday’s tilt with winning streaks on the line. In fact, the Bombers (8-4), who have won seven straight, and Calgary (10-1-1), with nine consecutive wins, are the longest combined winning streaks between two teams ever to play in the Canadian Football League.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton joined the Free Press newsroom in 2015, reporting on the sports and investigative beats until he left the Free Press in July 2026.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produced was reviewed by an editing team before it was posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.