Safety first, Bombers’ all-star Alexander returns to full practice

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This article was published 13/09/2022 (1154 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The best defence in the CFL is getting set to welcome back one of its biggest stars.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers safety Brandon Alexander was a full participant at practice on Tuesday, lined up with the starters, and was made available to speak to the media for the first time this season.

The fourth-year Bomber hasn’t played a snap in 2022 as he’s been rehabbing a torn ACL that he suffered in the 2021 Grey Cup.

Alexander earned his first CFL all-star nod last season.

“Of course, it was long and hard, but to be honest with you, it kind of flew by pretty fast.,” said Alexander of the recovery process.

“At the end of the day, I think what made it really fly by was all the guys encouraging (me) and doing all those things like that and me wanting to be back. So, yeah, it kind of flew by, to be honest with you.”

The fact the Bombers went 12-1 without their starting safety may have contributed to Alexander feeling that way. Despite their success without him, the team is ecstatic to have Alexander back on the field as their last line of defence.

Although all the signs are pointing in the right direction, it’s unknown if Alexander will get the start for the Bombers on Saturday in Hamilton when they take on the Tiger-Cats (3-9).

“He’s certainly the absolute leader of that defensive back group and a big leader on our team,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “He started that process a number of years ago in making sure everybody’s right and everybody’s doing more so it’s very pleasing to have him back there.”

Alexander has no regrets about how his injury happened. He could tell something was off with his knee in the second quarter of the championship game in Hamilton, but he refused to leave the game. By the time the Bombers prevailed 33-25 over the Tiger-Cats in overtime to win their second straight title, Alexander had torn his ACL.

“I don’t even know,” said Alexander when asked if staying in the game made his injury worse.

“To be honest with you though, I don’t even care cause it’s the Grey Cup. Why would I come out? Unless I’m crawling off the field, it felt fine to me. I’ll take a Grey Cup every time. An injury, it happens, you know. If it requires me to do that again in order for that to happen, I’ll do it again.”

The injury led to Alexander, a 28-year-old from Orlando, Fla., getting the true Winnipeg experience as he stayed in town in the winter to rehab.

“It definitely was different,” said Alexander with a chuckle.

“You know, seeing negative 40 degrees for a minute and it was my first winter, my first real winter up here. I’ll tell you what though, I’d do it again. I would. I appreciated it. It was all good with me.”

Canadians Malcolm Thompson and most recently Nick Hallett played well in Alexander’s spot, but the Bombers could use another veteran presence on defence as defensive back Nick Taylor left Saturday’s 54-20 Banjo Bowl bowl victory with an Achilles injury. Taylor, a 34-year-old in his seventh CFL season, wasn’t at Tuesday’s practice. Defensive back Demerio Houston has missed the past two games and still isn’t practising.

O’Shea wouldn’t provide an update on Taylor, but he did speak to what he means to the defence.

“He’s a hell of a player. He’s a good communicator, he’s really competitive, and he’s a lot of fun, too. He certainly helps run that side,” O’Shea said.

“You feel good with that veteran presence out there that he’s gonna make sure everybody’s on the same page and do the right things… Nick brought all of that to the field and besides being one of the faster guys on our team, he’s a great athlete and really competitive.”

All of a sudden, the Bombers’ secondary is starting to have some question marks. Rookie Jamal Parker has filled in for Houston at corner and fellow American newcomer Evan Holm took over for Taylor on Saturday.

Alexander said the injuries piling up have nothing to do him getting back to practice.

“It was important for me to come back when I was ready. Nick Taylor, (Demerio Houston), and all those guys, at the end of the day, things happen, and we got guys in that building that stepped up and are still stepping up today,” said Alexander.

“If I come back this week or if I don’t come back this week, we still got guys that are stepping up… At the end of the day, we’re good.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31