Wilson, Rose bring energy to practice

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This article was published 30/07/2023 (828 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The first practice after a bye week is almost certain to have a bit more energy than most training sessions, but the Blue Bombers had two more reasons to get up for their return work Sunday at IG Field.

It was as welcome a sight for any member of the Blue and Gold, as linebacker Kyrie Wilson and defensive back Winston Rose sported full pads and flew around the football field together for the first time in 13 months.

The defensive anchors, who were activated off the six-game injured list at the same time, hope to make their 2023 season debuts Thursday against the West Division-leading B.C Lions at IG Field (7:30 p.m.).

In the words of Wilson, this week of practice is the calm before the storm.

“It feels good,” said Wilson, who tore his Achilles tendon in Week 4 of last season after a tremendous start to the year that included 18 tackles and a sack. “Being out for a year, getting all that excitement back — because it’s tough sometimes, watching on the sideline, but it’s good to just be back with the team, being on the field, man. It’s just good to be running with the team.

“When you first get hurt it kind of sucks but I just kept my faith in God, man. I knew he had a plan, we all go through things sometimes and you don’t really understand it, but me just having my faith in God and being around the team, it felt good.”

Wilson noted he feels good, perhaps game-ready, but his season debut is in the hands of the Bombers’ staff. It’s hard for him to not think about Thursday, though, and flying around for the first time in more than a year.

“(The excitement) is there,” said the 30-year-old. “But I always say, ‘Just stay calm, don’t get overexcited.’ But I’m going to be excited. Whenever it’s time, I’m going to be pumped but I’m just trying to just stay calm and focus on what I need to do next and when it’s time, I’ll be ready to go.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea stopped short of providing a definitive status for Wilson on Thursday but noted his presence on the practice field has been felt immediately.

“There’s a little bit more chatter when he goes and makes a play, when he beats a block or when he flies past somebody. He’s that type of athlete that it doesn’t go unnoticed so when he’s out there flying around and guys recognize how hard he’s worked, they see it firsthand on a daily basis when he’s in rehab,” O’Shea said.

“So I think there’s a little more volume out there when he’s running around making plays.”

Rose, meanwhile, broke his left foot in the third quarter of last year’s Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts. He gutted out the remainder of the game but was left with a lengthy rehab process this offseason and then ended up on the six-game injured list out of training camp.

He aligned at field corner for many of the reps he took Sunday.

“I’m feeling blessed,” said Rose, 29. “Just gotta give God the thanks, happy to be back out there with my brothers.

“It kind of humbled me,” he said of the lessons he learned from the injury. “I got to see the game from the outside looking in. Most times, when you’re a player, you just got tunnel vision so you’re not really seeing the big picture, so being away from the game kind of humbled me.”

Rose spent some time with family over the bye week but said staying in shape with conditioning sessions was a top priority ahead of his biggest week of the season. The key to his rehab process, he explained, was going about his business as usual.

“Just staying in it, going through each week like I’m playing. That was the biggest thing for me, just not being checked out mentally, staying in it mentally, making sure that when I’m in meetings I’m taking notes just like I’m playing.”

As important as it is for his team to return to work with the same focus as when they left, the bye week is something O’Shea doesn’t take lightly. It’s a chance to rest, recuperate — and in the case of some — get over the final rehab hurdle and ready for game action.

“As usual, I think the guys are always excited to be back,” O’Shea said. “I mean, a lot of these guys stick around, hang out with each other and various things so I believe the No. 1 thing they got to do is sort of get their mind off football.

“They still gotta stay in shape, they still have to do some work physically to maintain a certain level but get guys healed up a little bit, get guy’s minds relaxed so they can come back and focus again. It’s hard to stay on for that many weeks in a row.”

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Schoen not practising

While Wilson and Rose were major additions to the defensive side of the ball, the offence was without receiver Dalton Schoen at Sunday’s practice.

Schoen, who leads the league with 473 receiving yards, left the Week 6 contest against Edmonton in the third quarter after suffering a crushing blow from two Elks defenders. The 26-year-old’s absence certainly leaves reason for concern after he downplayed his injury afterwards, saying he’d be fine after the bye week.

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam