Baby steps after bye-week break

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This article was published 17/09/2019 (2216 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They faced 11 gruelling weeks of football without a notable break. So in many ways, the bye week couldn’t have come at a better moment for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

But after dedicating some much-needed time to rest and relaxation, including many heading back to their respective homes to catch up with family and friends, it was time to get back to work. The Bombers returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since their 35-10 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sept. 7.

Sensing his players might have had a little too much fun during their time away, head coach Mike O’Shea didn’t feel the need to overwhelm them on the first day back.

“The message today was, ‘You all look like you are breathing heavy. I’m sure you’ll feel better tomorrow,’” he said.

Despite being idle, the Bombers are still in first place in the CFL’s West Division. At 9-3, they are one game ahead of the Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders, both 8-4. Winnipeg heads to Montreal this week to take on the Alouettes on Saturday afternoon.

Considered to be the CFL’s laughingstock the past few years, the Alouettes have risen from the basement of the East and now sit in second spot in the division with a 6-5 record. Prior to last week’s 27-25 defeat to the Roughriders, the Alouettes had won three straight, including a 40-34 win over the Stampeders.

“They don’t give up a ton of big plays and they do what they do extremely well. They also play very physical,” said Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler, who will be making his fourth start in place of the injured Matt Nichols.

“Those are the first things I’m seeing here in the beginning of the week, and they also do a lot of really good things on defence. They’ve got really good players and a good scheme.”

Streveler, who spent the bye week first with friends in Nashville, then catching up with his mother in Arizona, said the break was an all-around benefit for the team, especially for those healing from injury.

Back on the field Tuesday were defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat and left guard Patrick Neufeld after long absences. Jeffcoat (lower body) has been out since early August, while Neufeld, who has also been sidelined with a lower-body issue, practised for the first time this season.

Both are in the fifth week of a stint on the six-game injured list, meaning it’s the first week they’re permitted to practise.

Both are doubtful to play Saturday against the Alouettes because their participation would require pulling them off the injury list early, meaning the Bombers would lose the salary-cap relief.

Neither was made available to media.

“I haven’t really watched the film yet, but he’s running around out there, he’s pretty happy and the guys are pretty excited to have him out there,” O’Shea said of Neufeld.

“I think everybody understands how much of a grind, mentally, it is on a guy — especially a vet, who wants to be out there on the field and is still a really big part of it in the room, for sure, making sure all the young guys are doing the right things.”

O’Shea also said Nichols was progressing well from an injury to his throwing shoulder, but that it would be another week or two before he will be reassessed.

“He’s coming along nicely. He had a pretty good smile on his face today and said he’s feeling pretty good,” O’Shea said.

Halfback Brandon Alexander remains out with a lower-body injury he suffered in early August. Receivers Lucky Whitehead and Nic Demski, both of whom missed the Sept. 7 game against the Roughriders, were back on the field and have been cleared to play.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton